"You'll have to wait some time, then," said the girl, scornfully, "for Mrs. Lawrence has gone out;" and she shut the door with a bang.
"May I wait here?" said Benny, looking round the roomy hall.
"Yes," said the girl; "I'll have no brats in the kitchen; you can sit on that chair if you like;" and she hurried downstairs.
Benny obeyed, and sat for a long time holding his cap between his knees. At length, as he was growing rather impatient, he heard a light step on the stairs near him, and, looking up, he saw his little benefactress descending, carrying a huge doll in her arms.
Benny felt himself growing hot all over, for he had no idea whether it was the proper thing to stand or sit still, so he shuffled about on his chair in a very uneasy manner.
The little girl looked at him curiously for a moment, and then came towards him, saying,
"Are you not Benny, that papa has in his office?"
"Yes, 'm," said Benny, shuffling dangerously near the edge of the chair, and blushing to the roots of his hair.
"Don't be frightened," she said, noticing his embarrassment. "I've been wanting a long time to see you. Are you waiting for something?"
"Ay," said Benny, regaining his composure; "the master sent me with a letter, an' told me to wait an answer."