Frequently, when the child could have wept for loneliness, the words
would keep echoing in her heart. She was a well-disposed little
creature, and those hours spent alone often brought serious thoughts,
which molded and beautified her character. But Ellie was a thoroughly
natural child: there was none of the story-book goodness about her.
She was keenly interested in everything that went on. She thought
there was no one like mother, but it was Katy who represented the world
to her,--the world of McNaughton's store, with its brightness and
beautiful wares, and its ever-changing crowd of handsomely costumed
ladies intent upon the pleasures of shopping. Any scrap of news which
one fagged out little cashgirl brought home at the close of the day was
eagerly listened to by the other; who found her enforced idleness so
irksome.
Katy had a great deal to narrate at the close of the day upon which our
story opened. Sitting upon the foot of Ellie's bed, she told how she
upset the pyramid of note-paper; and what trouble she would have been
in, but for the kind lady who so promptly came to the rescue.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43