And after supper that night her father said something that made Nellie feel more than ever condemned.
“Do you know, Nell,” he said, thoughtfully, pulling on his old black pipe as she perched as usual on the broad arm of his chair. “Do you know there is good stuff in that girl Hester?”
“In Hester Grimes?” asked Nellie, rather flutteringly.
“Yes. In Hester Grimes. I guess you didn’t hear about it. And it slipped my mind. But when I was over to see little Johnny Doyle again to-day I found Hester there and the Doyles think she’s about right—especially Rufus.”
“Rufus isn’t just right in his mind—is he?” asked Nellie, her eyes twinkling a little.
“I don’t know. In some things Rufe is ’way above the average,” chuckled her father. “He is cunning enough, sure enough! But to get back to Hester. I never told you how she jumped into the sewer-basin and saved Johnny’s life?”
“No! Never!” gasped Nellie.
The physician told her the incident in full. He told her further that Hester had done a deal, off and on, for the Widow Doyle and her children.
“Oh, I wish I had known!” cried Nellie, in real contrition.
“What for?” demanded the doctor.