“So I do, the worst way. Honest, I’m like a rag. My knees shake and——”
The stranger sat down on the wall beside her and put her arm about her shelteringly. Anna leaned against her gratefully and closed her eyes for a few moments. The older girl gazed at her wonderingly. An hungry, almost a starved look came into the dark eyes and the arm which supported Anna clasped her almost fiercely.
Anna opened her eyes and smiled without moving.
“You’ll think I’m a perfect baby,” she declared, “but truly I have had a queer sort of shock.”
She sat erect and slipped down, then seated herself again. “I’m too wobbly to walk just yet. I’ll wait a bit until I feel better or see a waggon. I wish you felt like waiting with me?”
The other girl’s brow puckered in a slight frown. Anna introduced herself.
“I am Anna Miller. I have wanted awfully to get acquainted with you, though truly I didn’t mean to break in the way I did.”
The dark girl smiled vaguely and rose slowly from the wall. Anna sprang up also.
“You mind—waiting alone?” the stranger asked hesitatingly.
“I’m not afraid, only I don’t seem to feel like facing my thoughts at this moment. I guess I’ll hike along if you’re leaving me.”