"Is this it?" asked Miss Powell, holding up the pattern Nelly had found.
"The very thing!" exclaimed Mrs. Kirkland, joyfully. "Where did it come from?"
"This little girl found it and brought it in."
"You are a very good, honest child," said Mrs. Kirkland to Nelly; "and I am very much obliged to you. See here," she continued, taking a pretty little doll from a shelf near by, "would you like this for your own?"
Nelly hung down her head.
"Perhaps you see some other thing you would rather have?" said Mrs. Kirkland, good-naturedly. "Don't be afraid."
"Please," said Nelly, taking courage at the kindness of the lady's look and tone, and pointing to Miss Powell's work, while her heart beat fast and her colour rose, "please, I should like one of those things, if I could learn how to do that work."
"Well, I declare, what an odd little thing you are!" said Mrs. Kirkland. "What is your name?"
"Nelly Ryan," answered Nelly; and, growing still bolder, she added, speaking to Miss Powell, "I saw you yesterday by granny's gate; and you gave me some flowers and a card."
"So I did!" said Miss Powell. "I thought I had seen those gray eyes before; but you have cut your hair off, haven't you?"