"And Mrs. Sterling wants them invited in here to wait?" exclaimed Mary. "How kind of her! Now, then, Nell, that's work for you and for me: we must help those boys to get a little comfort"—as Gibson went quickly down the long stairs on her errand.
"Oh, I can't," cried Eleanor, burrowing into the soft neck.
"Yes, you can."
"I'm his sister. And you can't expect me to see them."
"Yes, I do," said Mary firmly; "it's exactly what you ought to do. I'm going down to welcome them, and you must come too. Come on, Eleanor; we've simply got to do it."
Eleanor, seeing nothing for it unless she were to be left alone on her stair, which would have been the last thing to be endured, got up and followed slowly, to be met at the big door leading to the side porch by the company of gloomy-faced boys.
"Well boys," said Mary cheerfully, "I'm glad you've come to help Eleanor and me."
Every boy looked up in great surprise, for they all supposed they were left to comfort themselves.
"Can't we sit in the dining-room?" asked Mary, with a thought for the cheerful red carpet and curtains.
"Mistress wants them to come up into her sitting-room," said Gibson.