Peggy's face showed extreme surprise.
"How do you mean?" she said. "I've made names for you all. I didn't know your real ones."
Brown Smiley looked at her and saw in a moment that there was nothing to be vexed about.
"To be sure, miss. Beg your pardon. Well, she that's lame's Lizzie, and me, I'm Matilda-Jane."
"Oh yes," interrupted Peggy. "Well, you may give her the bun if you like. It's very kind of you, for I meant it for you. I'd like——" she went on, "I'd like to give you more, but you see papa gaved me the pennies for us, and p'raps he'd be vexed."
"To be sure, to be sure, that'd never do," replied Matilda, quickly. "But oh, miss, we've been asking father about Brackenshire, and the cottages. 'Tis Brackenshire 'ills, sure enough, that's seen from your front."
"I knew that," said Peggy, in a superior way.
But Brown Smiley was too eager to feel herself snubbed.
"And oh, but he says it is bee-yutiful there—over on the 'ills. The air's that fresh, and there's flowers and big-leaved things as they calls ferns and brackens."
"And white cottages?" asked Peggy, anxiously.