“Might I get on to one of the ships?” Peggy asked.
“No, no—dirty places—all coal-dust; whatever would Miss Roberts say to that?”
“Oh, but I would like to be on a ship, and the coal-dust would do me no harm,” pleaded Peggy.
“There’s nothing but dirty Germans on the ships, Miss Peggy—speaking like monkeys, and rings in their ears—Spanish, and Dutch, and Italian, some of them. No, no; it’s no place for you!”
Peggy said no more. But, would you believe it, she decided that she must see these men with rings in their ears, who spoke like monkeys, however she managed it. And with this thought she fell asleep.
Dr. Seaton came on Thursday, and by that time Peggy was quite well, and out of bed again.
“May I take her down the avenue on my horse, Miss Roberts?” he asked of Aunt Euphemia. “I promised her that I would.”
“Oh, don’t trouble with the child,” said Aunt Euphemia. “I mean to take her for a drive with me this afternoon.”
There was a moment’s pause, and Peggy looked very hard at Dr. Seaton—very hard indeed. A drive with Aunt Euphemia would be quite different from a ride with him, she thought.