[CHAPTER VI.]
IT is small wonder that Nelly forgot every thing,—even her new-found hope,—and sat down for a few minutes in dumb despair. But she was not one to give up long at a time, and the training of the past summer had developed her natural qualities of determination and perseverance. Presently she began to question her grandmother and to try to get at particulars. But the old woman would do nothing but cry and lament and wail, till Nelly's overstrained nerves began to give way under the excitement. She found her voice and hands beginning to tremble and her heart to throb violently; and she felt instinctively that it would never do to give way. She turned and went out.
"Nelly, Nelly!" called the old woman. "Don't be after going away, dear! Don't desert your poor old granny!"
"I am not going away, granny dear," said Nelly, gently. "I will come back in a few minutes."
As she opened the door, she found poor Crummie waiting for her drink, and expressing as much astonishment as a cow was capable of, at the unwonted neglect.
"Poor Crummie!" said Nelly; "you shall not suffer, at any rate, as long as I have any thing to give you."
She went to the pump and brought a pailful of water for the cow. The familiar action did something of itself towards calming her agitation, as duties performed, however simple, almost always do.
She stood by the cow while she drank, and then went into the little shed and shut the door after her. When she came out, she had been crying, and her face was pale; but she was calm and composed as if she had received new strength.
"Come, granny," said she, cheerfully, as she re-entered the house; "we must have something to eat, at any rate, even if we are turned out this very night. I am going to kindle up a fire and make you a nice, strong cup of tea, and some toast. You will feel better when you have eaten something."
At first granny resolutely refused to touch any food; but Nelly's coaxing at last prevailed. She drank one cup, and then another, and then found out that she was hungry, and ended with making a good meal.