“Very pretty little town, Coventry,” said the man, with a smile and bow that he evidently meant to be very engaging. “Is there a nice hotel here?”
“There isn’t any at all now; if any one spends a night they have to stop at the big tavern by the station,” said Fannie, with a wild hope that he would retrace his steps and seek the big tavern’s shelter.
But he still accommodated his steps to theirs, and presently asked if they were residents of Coventry.
“Our parents don’t live here, but we are boarding scholars at Mrs. Abbott’s school,” said Bell, haughtily, thinking that the mention of Mrs. Abbott’s name might prove discouraging.
“You walk very fast, young ladies,” said their companion affably. “Mrs. Abbott is a very particular friend of mine, and I am going over to see her about taking my sister into the school.”
“There is no room for another scholar,” said Fannie; “the school is as full as can be.”
“O, Mrs. Abbott will do any thing to oblige me,” said he, confidently. “I can talk her over. How young does she take pupils? My little sister would not be happy unless there were some other very small girls there besides herself.”
“There are none very small,” said Fannie.
“Except Elfie,” corrected Bell.
“Why, Bell, you can hardly call Elfie a scholar, and you know she was only taken out of regard for Mr. Bellamy. No one else so young would be admitted.”