"I don't know: she used to, sometimes," said Nelly.
"I think I must go and see granny myself," said Mrs. Kirkland, who was really anxious to secure Nelly's services, not merely for the child's sake, but for her own. "I feel as if I must have you, Nelly."
"It is a great chance for me," said Nelly, "a better chance than I could ever have expected,—and no one knows how I hate to lose it; but granny is old, and she has her little ways; and you know she brought me up the best she could, and never let me want for any thing she could do for me; and I shouldn't feel it was right to go straight against her, even if I was to gain by it."
"Very true, Nelly; and, as I was saying the other day, you owe granny a great deal for bringing you up in such strict habits of honesty. Only for that, I never would have taken you into the store as I have done."
"Granny was very particular about that," said Nelly. "Almost the only time she ever whipped me, was for taking some fruit from a lady's garden. She made me go and carry it back and ask pardon. But that was when I was a little girl," added Nelly, with dignity.
Mrs. Kirkland smiled. "Well, I will call and see granny, in a day or two. Meantime, you may carry her this red shawl, if you like, and tell her I sent it to her. There are a few imperfections in it; but it is warm and soft."
"I think it is lovely," said Nelly. "Granny likes red, and she is always complaining of cold in her shoulders. If you do come and see her, I wouldn't contradict her," she added, shrewdly. "I have always noticed that after she has talked all she likes, and said all she has to say, she will do almost any thing I want her to; but if I begin to argue, there is no end to it."
"That is the way with more people than granny," said Mrs. Kirkland, much amused. "Well, Nelly, I will attend to your hint, and see what I can do; for I must have you, and that is all about it."
In going home that night, Nelly met with a grand surprise. She was going to the past-office with some letters for Mrs. Kirkland, when, on passing her favourite book-store, where the pictures were exhibited, she saw Mr. Lambert's tall figure and silver beard towering above a number of people who were looking at a large painting. Nelly had not seen him for some months, and hardly expected him to recognize her; but he pounced upon her at once.
"Why, Nelly, is this you? I have been meaning to hunt you up, ever since I came home. How nicely you look! What are you doing now-a-days? Making tatting?"