It was quite as hard to keep a grave face when Fly added to her evening prayer the petition,—
"God f'give me speakin' a naughty word 'fore Miss Perdigoff."
"What naughty word, darling?"
"Hunkydory," replied Fly, with a deep sense of guilt. Not that she thought it wrong to use a coarse word, only wrong to use it "'fore Miss Perdigoff."
Aunt Madge entered into a short explanation of the true nature of right and wrong; but her words were thrown away, for that "curly dog" filled every nook and corner of Fly's little mind.
CHAPTER XII.
"FOLDED EYES."
"Folded eyes see brighter colors
Than the open ever do."
It stormed next day; but as "brooks don't mind the weather," Maria and her mother appeared again. When Aunt Madge went down to see them, Maria was sitting near the dining-room door, the scarlet spots of excitement coming and going in her cheeks. She could think of nothing but the wonderful, unknown doctor, who would know in one moment whether she could ever see or not.