“But I have,” Agnes said.
“That’s nothin’ to do with us,” grumbled Barnabetta.
She looked very sullen and unhappy. The clown was crouching close to the fire, but had drawn his shoe and stocking on again. He looked very miserable, and warm-hearted Agnes determined not to allow herself to become angry with Barnabetta.
“Now, Barnabetta,” she said coaxingly, “don’t be cross. I want to be friends with you.”
“What for?” demanded the other girl, sharply.
“I want to take you to my house,” pursued Agnes, without answering the last question. “The Corner House, you know. We’ve plenty of room and I know my sister, Ruth, will be kind to you.”
Barnabetta and her father looked at each other now in stunned surprise. Why Agnes should really want to help them they could not understand.
“Mr. Buckham is kind enough to take us all in his sleigh,” pursued Agnes, after calling to Tom Jonah to stay on the other side of the sleigh, for Barnabetta was a little afraid of the big dog. “We’ll be in Milton in two hours and there your father can be made comfortable.”
“Say! this isn’t a trick?” ejaculated the trapeze performer at last.
“What kind of trick?” asked Agnes, in wonder.