"But, Eva Louise, I really want to speak to you. Do you think—do you think your mother would be willing to let me stay here a little while?"
"Stay here! What ever do yer mean?"
"I mean that I want to live here till my father comes home. I— Well, the truth is, my aunts want me to go somewhere, and I don't want to go, because I don't know the people, and I thought perhaps I might stay here with you, that is if you don't mind."
"Well, I never!" exclaimed Eva Louise. "If you ain't a queer one! Ma! I say, ma!"
There was no reply, so Eva Louise went into the house, leaving Bella in triumphant possession of all the jack-stones, which she immediately swept into a very dirty pinafore. Presently her sister returned, followed by Mrs. Brady, with the front of her skirt turned up and her arms bared to the elbow.
"How do you do, Mrs. Brady? Has Eva Louise told you? Would you mind?"
"What iver on earth do yer mean, miss? Sure it can't be that yer afther wantin' to lave yer nice house that's as big as a palace, and come here to the loikes o' us?"
"I really do, Mrs. Brady; and I shall be so much obliged to you if you will let me."
"Come inter the house, miss, an' we'll talk it over. Sure, do the Herrickses know yer afther comin' here?"
"Oh no, of course not. No one knows it, and I don't want you to tell them, please, Mrs. Brady," said Elizabeth, as she followed her hostess through the narrow passageway into the kitchen.