“Come forth, Tommy,” he was commanded, and, grinning shyly, he obeyed.
“Now, stand perfectly still,” and, stooping, the Blue Lady selected a cleanish spot on his face and there she kissed him.
Tommy, completely forgetting his orders, flung his arms around her neck, leaving impressions in coal-dust on her linen collar and on her face.
“It isn’t of the least consequence,” she assured Mrs. Tregennis. “They’ll both wash.”
As they walked upstairs to their own sitting-room the Blue Lady slipped her hand into the Brown Lady’s saying, “Oh, Dorothea, isn’t it good to be here? Just good, good, good!”
Before they had quite finished tea there was a muffled sound on the door and some one walked into the room.
“We’ve had a beautiful tea, Mrs. Tregennis. We’ve each eaten a huge chop, but, as usual, I didn’t get my fair share of cream.” Then the Blue Lady stopped abruptly for she read in her friend’s face that something was wrong. Turning she saw that a stranger stood in the room.
“I beg your pardon,” she said, rising, with a touch of hauteur in her voice, “I thought it was Mrs. Tregennis who came in when the door opened.” Then she waited.
The stranger responded with what was meant to be a winning smile. “My little girl and I are in the downstairs sitting-room,” she began to explain, “and I came in now——”
“Ah, I understand,” interrupted the Blue Lady, more warmth in her tone. “You have moved down there for us, and came in here now absentmindedly?”