She was a small girl, not quite so tall as Sally. Her eyes were brown, a gentle brown, while Sally’s were bright and blue. Her brown hair curled softly about her face, not at all like Sally’s yellow mop that had to be brushed and brushed before it would even think of lying down.
The little girl looked over at Sally and Sally looked over at the little girl. Then Sally smiled and the little girl smiled back. Next Sally waved her hand, and after waiting a moment as if to make sure that Sally meant her, the little girl waved her hand, too.
Aunt Bee came round the corner of the house and Sally sprang off the doorstep to meet her.
‘Aunt Bee,’ whispered Sally in a loud voice, ‘look over there. See that little girl on Miss Neppy’s doorstep!’
Aunt Bee looked over at the strange little girl who was watching every motion Sally made.
‘She must have come to Miss Neppy’s last night or this morning,’ said Aunt Bee. ‘She looks as if she were about your age, Sally.’
Sally was silent for a moment. Then she caught her aunt’s hand in a sudden squeeze.
‘Aunt Bee, oh, Aunt Bee!’ exclaimed Sally. ‘Do you think that little girl could come to our party?’
‘Why, I think so,’ said Aunt Bee, laughing at Sally’s eager face. ‘I will go over and speak to Miss Neppy about it.’
So over the way stepped kind Aunt Bee, and back she came, in a moment or two, leading the strange little girl by the hand.