"Fairies live in these," she was saying, "but it's such a beautiful morning, I 'spect they've all flown away. You have to be very early to catch a fairy. Who's that with Edmund and what's she come for?"
"To see you, I think," Montagu replied. "Jane-Anne's her name and she's Mrs. Dew's niece."
Jane-Anne looked more haggard than ever this morning; pale to ghastliness with dark shadows under her great eyes, she was singularly unattractive. Little Herrick felt both puzzled and repelled, but Margaret's teaching held good and the child walked forward holding out her hand with a little gracious air that was very captivating.
"How do you do?" said Herrick.
To her surprise, this strange-looking person dropped on one knee before her and taking the eggy little hand in both her own, kissed it.
"You're quite right," Jane-Anne remarked to Montagu over her shoulder, "she is like a princess."
"You may kiss me if you like," said Herrick graciously.
"If you please, miss, I'd rather you'd kiss me if you will," said Jane-Anne humbly. "I'd like to think anything so pretty as you had kissed me."
There was something so wistful and pathetic in the pale face that gazed so longingly into her own that little Herrick's warm heart was touched and she flung her arms round Jane-Anne's neck and kissed her heartily.
"Thank you," said Jane-Anne as she rose up to her feet. "I shall never forget it, never."