human
; and Elizabeth knelt beside her, holding the little dark canvas so that she could look at it; she sat staring into it for a long time.
gpt
Mary didn't try to keep her baby from the cross, she said, suddenly;
human
Blair has written Elizabeth that he will be at home to-morrow; I'll tell him you want to see him; and oh, Mamma, won't you please be nice to him? --she looked perfectly blank. Toward morning she sat silently for a whole hour sucking her thumb. When, abruptly, she came to herself and realized what she had been doing, the shamed color rose in her face. Nannie, kneeling at her side, caught at the flicker of intelligence to say,
gpt
Mamma, would you like to see the Rev. Mr. Gore? He is here; waiting in the parlor. Sha'n't I bring him in?
human
What does he come for now? I'm sick. I can't see people. Besides, I sent him a check for Foreign Missions last month.
gpt
Oh, Mamma! Nannie said, brokenly,
human
Oh, she said; and then, slowly:
gpt
Um-m; I see. She seemed to meditate a moment; then she said, gravely:
human
No, my dear, no; I won't see little Gore. He's a good little man; a very good little man for missions and that sort of thing. But when it comes to _this_-- she paused;
gpt
I haven't time to see to him, she said, soberly. A minute later, noticing Nannie's tears, she tried to cheer her:
human
Come, come! don't be troubled, she said, smiling kindly,
gpt
I can paddle my own canoe, my dear. After that she was herself for nearly half an hour. Once she said.
human
My house is in order, friend Ferguson.