Soon they were all chatting and laughing like schoolgirls, the three of them.
"I used to think I wanted ever so many things," observed Alma, with a pretty little air of earnest thought fulness. "But do you know what, I've discovered that I never really wanted anything more than what I've already got—you and Nancy, Mother."
CHAPTER XV
THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE MR. PRESCOTT
A little after five o'clock on a dull January afternoon the two sisters met on the road that ran from Melbrook to the cottage. It had been just a week since they had actually started in "working." Alma had just spoken in time to get the position that had been opened in the young village lawyer's office, guided by a kindly Providence.
"I don't see how you are clever enough to teach, Nancy," said Alma, looking at her sister's rather tired face with admiration. "I'd be throwing books and things inside of five minutes. But isn't it wonderful to think that we are really and truly making money? Did you ever believe that we could do it? I just hope that Uncle Thomas hears what we are doing—that'll just show him that we don't want anything from him. I wonder what Mildred would say to us—wouldn't she be shocked, though?"
Inside the little house, Alma banged the door behind her, while Nancy shouted gaily to her mother up-stairs.
"Well, well, well, what is all this noise for?" inquired a calm, masculine voice from the sitting-room. The two girls stopped still, thunderstruck; for the voice, unfamiliar in its genial accents, was nevertheless unmistakably the voice of Mr. Prescott! Alma stared at Nancy, Nancy stared back at Alma, neither of them knowing whether to stay where they were or to go forward.
"I shan't bite," remarked Mr. Prescott, mildly. Nancy boldly advanced, being on more familiar terms with the "Ogre" than the frankly terrified Alma, and to Alma's amazement he proceeded to kiss them both, and then, as if embarrassed, cleared his throat, and said "How-do-you-do" in a dry, formal tone.