"Who is Mrs. Van Brunt?" Ellen contrived to say, as Nancy hurried her along,
"Who is she? run, Ellen! why, she's just Mrs. Van Brunt your Mr. Van Brunt's mother, you know make haste, Ellen! we had rain enough the other day; I'm afraid it wouldn't be good for the grass if you stayed too long in one place; hurry! I'm afraid you'll catch cold you got your feet wet after all, I'm sure."
Run they did; and a few minutes brought them to Mrs. Van Brunt's door. The little brick walk leading to it from the courtyard gate was as neat as a pin; so was every thing else the eye could rest on; and when Nancy went in, poor Ellen stayed her foot at the door, unwilling to carry her wet shoes and dripping garments any further. She could hear, however, what was going on.
"Hillo! Mrs. Van Brunt," shouted Nancy "where are you? oh! Mrs. Van Brunt, are you out of water? cos if you are I've brought you a plenty; the person that has it don't want it; she's just at the door; she wouldn't bring it in till she knew you wanted it. Oh, Mrs. Van Brunt, don't look so, or you'll kill me with laughing. Come and see! come and see!"
The steps within drew near the door, and first Nancy showed herself, and then a little old woman not very old, either of very kind, pleasant countenance.
"What is all this?" said she, in great surprise. "Bless me! poor little dear! what is this?"
"Nothing in the world but a drowned rat, Mrs. Van Brunt, don't you see?" said Nancy.
"Go home, Nancy Vawse! go home," said the old lady; "you're a regular bad girl. I do believe this is some mischief o' yourn go right off home; it's time you were after your cow a great while ago."
As she spoke, she drew Ellen in and shut the door.
"Poor little dear!" said the old lady, kindly, "what has happened to you? Come to the fire, love, you're trembling with the cold. Oh, dear! dear! You're soaking wet; this is all along of Nancy somehow, I know; how was it love? Ain't you Miss Fortune's little girl? Never mind, don't talk, darling; there ain't one bit of colour in your face, not one bit."