It was but a short walk of a half mile to Nelly's home; Martin and Nelly were ready, so that no time was consumed in waiting.
It was even a more beautiful day than the one on which the previous nutting had taken place. The woods were brighter colored than ever, and the golden autumn mist seemed to cover every thing with beauty. It hung in wreaths around the tops of the high trees, and swayed softly back and forth when the breeze stirred it. The boats on the river could scarcely be discerned through it, and the opposite shores were entirely hidden.
"This is Dolly's well day," said Bessie, "I asked her father and he told me so."
"Martin says you are going to sell him some water-cresses," said Nelly; "at least, I suppose he was the one; did you?"
"Yes," said Bessie; "that is, he sold them for me, which is the same thing you know. He brought me three big pieces of money for them at noon, and I put 'em in a nut-shell and shut 'em up."
"A nut-shell?" repeated Martin, "that is a funny bank, I think."
"It's a safe one," said Bessie, "and it will not break and keep the money like some of those I have heard of in town. Just look at those bitter-sweets, Nell, aren't they bright?"
"I mean to get some," cried Nelly, as she paused to admire the red sprays of the berries that grew at the side of the short-cut path they were pursuing. "I will take them home to mother to put in her winter bouquets of dried grasses, that stand on the parlor mantle-shelf. They will enliven them and make them much handsomer."
"Why not wait till we return?" said Martin; "you will have all the trouble of carrying them to the woods and back again, and perhaps lose them by the way."