Annie did not even glance at her governess. She pushed aside the baize door, and found herself in the great stone hall which led to the play-room and school-room. Her garden hat hung on a peg in the hall, and she tossed it off its place, and holding it in her hand ran toward the side door which opened directly into the garden. She had a wild wish to get to the shelter of the forsaken hammock and there cry out her whole heart. The moment she got into the open air, however, she was met by a whole troop of the little children, who were coming in after their usual short exercise before going to bed. Miss Danesbury was with them, and when Annie ran out by the open door, she entered holding two little ones by the hands. Last in this group toddled Hester’s little sister Nan. The moment she saw Annie her little face broke into smiles; she held out two hands eagerly, and fled to the young girl’s side.
“Where dat pitty toy?” she said, raising her round face to Annie’s; “some one did buy dat toy, and it’s vedy pitty, and me wants it—where’s dat toy?”
Annie stooped down, and spoke suddenly and impulsively to the little child.
“You shall have the toy for your very own, Nan, if you will do something for me?”
Nan’s baby eyes looked straight into Annie’s.
“Me will,” she said emphatically; “me want dat toy.”
“Put your arms round me, little darling, and give me a great, tight hug.”
This request was great fun to Nan, who squeezed her little arms round Annie’s neck, and pressed her dimpled cheek to her lips.
“Dere,” she said triumphantly, “will dat do?”
“Yes, you little treasure, and you’ll try to love me, won’t you?”