After a long search she found her at last busily painting some huge dock leaves, which she had found in her morning ramble, and pulled up by the roots.
"Come, Antonia, you are wanted," said Annie.
"What for?" said Antonia. "Pray don't stand in my light, Annie."
"But they're all waiting for you, every one of them—the Lorrimers, and Hester, and Sir John, and the rest. They want to thank you; it was your doing, you know."
"Of all things in the world," replied Antonia, "I hate being thanked most of all. I did nothing. It was all dear old Sir John. And look what he has given me, Annie. This magnificent paint-box. Oh, the darling! the beauty! Oh, the rapture of possessing it! I'll go if I must when I have finished my dock leaves, but not before."