“Yes! And sometimes when she looks over there where you live she sighs—just the same.”
“No!”
“Yes she does,” declared little Lottie. “She was always doing that when you were sick.”
“But she never came near me,” said Nelson, suddenly, speaking to himself more than to Lottie.
The little girl stared at him in return. “Why! what a story!” she gasped.
“What’s a story, Lottie?” he demanded, with sudden surprise that the child should look so earnestly at him.
“You said my Janice never came to see you while you were sick!”
“Well, she didn’t. She came to your father’s store, I guess; and perhaps she inquired after me——”
“Why, Mr. Haley!” interrupted Lottie, so excited that she was rude. “That’s a nawful story! She come ev’ry day to help Miz’ Beasely. And sometimes she stayed all night. Miz’ Beasely told Miss ’Rill, and I heard her, that she wouldn’t knowed what to do without Janice.”
Nelson stopped at the corner of High Street and leaned against the fence, while he stared down upon the child in amazement.