“I wish somebody besides us could see it,” said Katie, and hardly was her wish expressed before it was gratified. A small sound of admiration startled them, and, quickly turning to look in the direction of the gentle ejaculation, they saw a man’s head above the high board fence. The drifts, now hardened by the frost, had allowed him to walk on them comfortably, and instead of being far below the top of the fence he was now head and shoulders above it. He made no effort to raise himself upon it, as the girls thought for a moment he might do. He had perhaps seen it without its frill of snow, and was aware of its decoration of spikes.
“A most beautiful image, young ladies,” he said, in a very soft voice, with a beaming smile and pushing forward of his head that seemed intended to be very winning.
None of the startled girls replied; so he made another admiring remark.
Bell, who was half behind Lily, was examining the visitor very closely. “O, Lily, that’s the man who spoke to Fannie and me at the station,” she said, excitedly; and Fannie exchanged a corroborative glance with her.
He could not have heard her, but he guessed the meaning of her whisper, for he touched his hat with a flourish, remarking:
“Ah, you remember me, lady? I hope you reached home safely? Is this all the scholars Mrs. Abbott keeps?”
His small prominent eyes were roving about looking most particularly at the smallest girls; and Marion, who was near enough to hear Bell’s whisper, grasped Elfie’s hand and drew her toward the house.
“Is that pretty little miss the young scholar you told me about?” he asked, addressing Bell.
“Don’t speak to him, Bell,” said Lily, quickly. “Come, girls, let us go in.”
He called after them as they moved away, but Marion had reached the door, and, seeing Miss Blake, called her out. Her appearance on the piazza seemed discouraging to the visitor, who instantly dropped out of sight.