"Oh, no, ma'am," answered Percy, rather relieved than otherwise at the prospect of a little solitude. At that moment the door opened, and in came the prettiest—yes, the very prettiest—little old lady that Percy had ever seen, with a bright, gentle face and bright blue eyes, and thin, soft-looking gray hair, put up in puffs under her bonnet. She was dressed in black, with a good deal of beautiful fur; and everything she wore was so suitable and becoming, that it made one feel as if her dress were a part of herself.
"So this is my little niece?" said she, kissing Percy. "I should know her anywhere from her resemblance to you, Margaret. My dear, it was very good in you to give your holidays to us. I hope we shall make them pleasant for you. Margaret, have you explained to Percy about our going out?"
"Yes, mamma."
"You see, we are going to arrange about the orphans' Christmas-tree," continued Mrs. Ackerman, in a soft, purring kind of voice. "We have to divide the work of buying supplies, because there are so many children this year. To-morrow you shall go around to the shops with me to see what we can find; and I dare say you will like to help Margaret dress some dolls."
"Oh, yes, ma'am," answered Percy; and gathering courage, she added: "I have got the doll you sent me out in Colorado; and it is as good as new."
"Indeed! You must be a very careful little girl, I think. And how do you like your school?"
"Oh, very much!" answered Percy, with animation. "It is not a bit like a school: it seems just like home."
"It must be very unlike any boarding school I ever attended," said Miss Ackerman. "Mamma, the carriage is ready; and there is not much time to spare, you know."
"True," answered her mother. "Good-by, my love; you must try not to feel lonely. Sylvester will show you the library and the flowers, if you like, or you can lie down and rest after your lunch, just as you feel disposed. It seems pleasant to have a little girl in the house once more: doesn't it, Margaret?"
"Yes, indeed," answered Margaret, and Percy was sure that she saw tears in her beautiful eyes. She wondered whom they could be thinking of. There was a lovely picture over the mantel, of a little fair girl playing with some flowers, and both the ladies looked at it as they spoke.