"Because Syne told me to take it. But that's just why I oughtn't to ha' taken it."
And she rose and put the book in one of the shelves over her head, moving her stool when she had done so, and turning her face toward the spot where the book now stood. Lucy watched her uneasily.
"What do you mean by saying that Syne told you?" she asked. "Who is Syne?"
"Don't you know Syne, miss? Syne is—you know 'Lord Syne was a miserly churl'—don't you?"
Then, before Lucy could reply, she looked up in her face, with a smile hovering about the one side of her mouth, and said:
"But it's all nonsense, miss, when you're standing there. There isn't no such person as Syne, when you're there. I don't believe there is any such person. But," she added with a sigh, "when you're gone away—I don't know. But I think he's up stairs in the nursery now," she said, putting her hand to her big forehead. "No, no; there's no such person."
And Mattie tried to laugh outright, but failed in the attempt, and the tears rose in her eyes.
"You've got a headache, dear," said Lucy.
"Well, no," answered Mattie. "I cannot say that I have just a headache, you know. But it does buzz a little. I hope Mr. Kitely won't be long now."