“You’re a witch!” cried the girl.
The woman smiled brightly. Her blue eyes, with the white, sightless pupils, turned toward the stranger. “I’m glad to see you at last. We heard you were coming. Almira, have you brought seats for the ladies?”
The child, keeping her eyes on the beautiful stranger, brought forward two soap-boxes upholstered in gay calico. If Botsey only had something like that for her neck! And she caught up the bottle in its crude skirt and blue crocheted shawl with an emphatic hug.
“Is that your doll?” asked Mrs. Lenox·
“No, ma’am. It’s Botsey.”
“It’s the bottle I’ve fixed up for her. I don’t know how she’d pass the time if it wasn’t for Botsey. You see, being so helpless, I try to make her enjoy staying with me. You know how helpless I am without her, Miss May.”
“I know how helpful you are and what a good housekeeper,” said Miss May, looking about at the tidy interior.
Then she told her errand. Almira was invited to the schoolhouse reception party the next Wednesday. Wally Jim had offered to fish near The Wing, if Mr. Wing should have to be filling orders in town.
Almira, her eyes still fixed on the beautiful lady’s face, said, “I went once. Miss May had an Easter just after we first come here. May I bring Botsey?”
But Miss May said no. A new library was due, and if it reached the village in time Almira would have books to bring her mother.