“Not a bit,” said I.  “He’s the hatefulest, crossest, big-feelingest man I ever saw, and Adaline is just like him!”

Had I been a little older I might, perhaps, have wondered at the crimson flush which my hasty words brought to Mrs. Hudson’s cheek, but I did not notice it then, and thinking she was, of course, highly entertained, I continued to talk about Mr. Gilbert and Adaline, in the last of whom Mabel seemed the most interested.  Of Nellie I spoke with the utmost affection, and when Mrs. Hudson expressed a wish to see her, I promised, if possible, to bring her there; then as I had already outstayed the time for which permission had been given, I tied on my sunbonnet and started for home, revolving the ways and means by which I should keep my promise.

This proved to be a very easy matter; for within a few days Nellie came to return my visit, and as mother had other company she the more readily gave us permission to go where we pleased.  Nellie had a perfect passion for ghost and witch stories, saying though that “she never liked to have them explained—­she’d rather they’d be left in solemn mystery;” so when I told her of the “old mine” and the “haunted house” she immediately expressed a desire to see them.  Hiding our bonnets under our aprons the better to conceal our intentions from sister Lizzie, who, we fancied, had serious thoughts of tagging, we sent her up-stairs in quest of something which we knew was not there, and then away we scampered down the green lane and across the pasture, dropping once into some alders as Lizzie’s yellow hair became visible on the fence at the foot of the lane.  Our consciences smote us a little, but we kept still until she returned to the house; then, continuing our way, we soon came in sight of the mine, which Nellie determined to explore.

It was in vain that I tried to dissuade her from the attempt.  She was resolved, and stationing myself at a safe distance I waited while she scrambled over stones, sticks, logs, and bushes, until she finally disappeared in the cave.  Ere long, however, she returned with soiled pantalets, torn apron, and scratched face, saying that “the mine was nothing in the world but a hole in the ground, and a mighty little one at that.”  After this I didn’t know but I would sometime venture in, but for fear of what might happen I concluded to choose a time when I hadn’t run away from Liz!

When I presented Nellie to Mrs. Hudson she took both her hands in hers, and, greatly to my surprise, kissed her on both cheeks.  Then she walked hastily into the next room, but not until I saw something fall from her eyes, which I am sure were tears.

“Funny, isn’t it?” said Nellie, looking wonderingly at me.  “I don’t know whether to laugh or what.”