“Really, she isn’t rude at all to-day,” said Malkin.
“Not a bit, brother Malkin, not a bit,” said Nibby.
“Then we’d better go home,” said Malkin. “Why, bless me, we’re home right now! This is the roof of our own house!”
“Now it’s queer I didn’t notice that before,” said Nibby. “How you do notice everything, brother!”
“Good-by,” said Merrimeg. “I must get home before mother comes back from church. Good-by.”
“Brother Nibby,” said Malkin, “will you ask her to stay and have dinner with us in our own house?”
“I’m sorry,” said Merrimeg, “but I can’t stay now. Thank you ever so much. I must hurry home. Good-by.”
She didn’t wait for an answer. Away she ran, and it wasn’t very long before she was in the village street again. In a few minutes she was sitting quietly at the front window of her house with the picture book on her knee, and there she was sitting when her mother came home from church.
“That’s what I call a good little girl,” said her mother, “—sitting there quietly with your book, just as I left you.”
“Yes’m,” said Merrimeg.