"Oh, mother, I shall not mind that! It is not as if I could see!"
"You shall do as you wish, my dear; but get either Rupert or Bob Wills to go with you."
Mrs. Coker packed a basket full of good things, and handed it to Lilian. Then the little girl, basket in hand, passed between the crowded tables in the direction of the door. On her way she encountered, in turn, Rupert and Bob, to each of whom she explained where she was going, and asked his escort to Nannie's door, but Rupert said: "Oh, Bob will go with you!" And Bob said: "I wouldn't bother about the old woman, if I were you. I don't want to miss the fun."
"How selfish they are!" she thought. "Never mind, I'll go by myself."
A minute later, she was crossing the Green. It was quite dark now, for great banks of heavy snow-clouds were gathering overhead; but darkness and light were alike to Lilian, and she made her way straight to Nannie Davey's cottage, which was at the far end of the waste ground. On knocking at the door, Nannie's voice, querulous in tone, bade her come in.
The old woman was surprised and delighted at the sight of her visitor.
"And you've left them all in the midst of their festivity to bring these dainties to me!" she exclaimed, as the little girl placed the contents of her basket on the table.
"I wanted to come," Lilian answered earnestly. "It seemed so hard that you should be spending Christmas Eve by yourself. They are going to have the magic-lantern now, and you know that will be no loss to me. I'm so sorry you cannot join us to-night."
"I meant to be with you, dearie, but I'm dreadful bad; the rheumatism is like red-hot needles running into all my joints, and 'tis agony to move."
"Oh, poor soul!" said the child sympathetically. "I am so very sorry you suffer so much. You'll try to eat some of these nice things I've brought you, won't you? The cake is very good; our cook made it."