At that instant Miss Scrimp caught a glimpse of Jessie Albemarle’s face. The girl hardly dared to, but she seemed to want to laugh right out; and from that instant Miss Scrimp knew that Jessie Albemarle knew why and how the change had come.
And the moment she could get the little girl alone after breakfast, she said to her, in a kinder tone than she had ever used to her before:
“Jessie, my dear, if you will keep a close mouth about all you know you’ll never be sorry for it. I’ll have a nice cot-bed put up in your room, and you shall have two new calico frocks, and a good, soft pair of shoes.”
“Thank you, Miss Scrimp. Miss Hattie told me not to say anything as long as I was treated well, and you may be sure I’ll mind her. She is the best friend I ever had.”
Miss Scrimp would really have liked to tear the poor girl limb from limb, but she dared not even be cross with her, so, with what she meant for a smile, she told her to go and do her work, and take her time about it.
CHAPTER XV.
A PROPOSITION.
Mr. W—— was not much surprised, after what Frank Legare had said, when he received a visit from the father of that young gentleman, nor astonished when in the office Mr. Legare asked him if he would not send for Hattie Butler, for he had a question to ask her in regard to the book which he held in his hand, one of those recently bound.
“I hope the book is bound right,” said Mr. W——, after having told his foreman to send Hattie Butler to the office.
“Oh, yes, it is bound perfectly, and partially illustrated,” said Mr. Legare, smiling. “I wish to make inquiry in regard to the illustration.”
The next moment Hattie entered the office, calm, completely self-possessed and lady-like.