"Don't I what, lassie?" asked Miss Baby, who was very fond of Lizzy, though she did not hesitate to check her occasional forwardness. "Don't you see my brother and sister, Doctor and Mrs. Campbell? Come and speak to them now, like a lady. Christian will be glad to know your mother's daughter."
"Well, I beg your pardon, Miss Baby," said Lizzy, blushing as usual, but accepting the check with perfect good-humour. "You know I always must go headlong, as ma says; I did not see that any one was here."
"And I am sure you are Lizzy Webb's daughter," said Mrs. Campbell, coming forward; "you look exactly as she did when we used to go to school together."
"Yes, ma'am, I am Lizzy Webb Gates. Ma sent her love to you, and she is coming to see you as soon as baby is old enough to let her go out."
"And now what was it you desired my opinion upon? asked Miss Baby, when the presentations had been duly accomplished.
"Oh, nothing of any great consequence," answered Lizzy, feeling pretty sure that Marion would not care to have her remark repeated to her aunt. "I was saying that it would be wrong to blame or slight Therese Beaubien for the faults of her father."
"Very wrong and unfeeling. I hope nobody does it?"
"Well, I think some people do. Matty McRae downright insulted her last Sunday. She said Tone Beaubien's—Well, there! I won't repeat it, because I might not get the words just right, but she did throw it in her face, and I think it's very mean."
"It certainly was, but I should not expect a great deal of poor Matty. She has never had much 'chance,' as Marion says. But, my dear, you will stay to tea, won't you? You will have plenty of time to go home afterward."
Lizzy gladly accepted the invitation. She took off her bonnet and put her hair to rights, and was soon seated in the parlour, quite at her ease. Presently her tatting came out of her pocket, and the shuttle began to fly through her fingers in that deft way which is so easy to those who know it, and so incomprehensible to those who do not.