The door was pushed open; a crowd of girls giggled in; Tessa bowed to Mary Sherwood and moved aside. She was turning over a pile of wools, selecting colors for a sacque for Dinah, when a laugh from the group thrilled her; low, deep, full, in all her life she had never heard a sound like it.
It was as sweet as the note of a thrush and as jubilant as a thoughtless girl.
“Now, Naughty Nan, you are laughing at me. But I will forgive you, because you are going away so soon. When are you coming back?”
“Never. I will allure the black bear to take me around the world.”
Naughty Nan stepped back, tossing her curls away from her face; Tessa looked down into her face, for she was a little thing; it was not a remarkable face: a broad forehead, deep set brown eyes, a passable complexion, a saucy mouth. If she would only laugh again; but she would not even speak.
How surprised Tessa would have been had she known that Naughty Nan had been studying her and wishing, “I want to be like you.”
The group of girls giggled out.
“I have fallen in love,” said Tessa.
“With Nan Gerard? Every body does. She is one of those lovable little creatures that every body spoils! It’s strange that you haven’t met her; she is Mary Sherwood’s cousin.”
“I do remember now—Mr. Hammerton told me that I must hear her laugh.”