"And now--that's right; wipe your eyes and sit down--and now you must talk to me, and take care of me. But you are not cross because I came up without leave?" "Indeed, no," said Ella sadly. "I thought I was without a friend, and you came just at that time." "No, no, you mustn't say that," said Nelly, "because I am not old and sensible enough to be your friend. But it hurt me to see you in such trouble, and I was obliged to come; and now you won't be miserable any more; and you mustn't take any notice if Laury is disagreeable--a nasty thing! flirting all day long with my--with Mr Hugh Lingon," she said, colouring. "But there, I'm not ashamed: Hugh Lingon is my lover, and has been ever since he was fourteen and I was six--when he used to give me sweets, and I loved him, and used to say he was so nice and fat to pinch! And Laury was flirting with him all that afternoon at the show, when Max would hang about--a great stupid!--when I wanted to explain things; for you know she was flirting with Hugh because that dear old Charley Vining wouldn't take any notice of her. He is such a dear nice fellow! But I do not love _him_, you know, only like him; and he likes me ever so much. He told me so one day, and gave me half-a-crown to spend in sweets--wasn't it kind of him? He'll often carry a basket of strawberries or grapes over for me and the girls, or fill his pockets with apples and pears for us; when, as for old Max, he'd faint at the very sight of a basket, let alone carry it! You will like Charley. He _is_ nice! Laury loves him awful--talks about him in her sleep! But I do not think he cares for her,--and no wonder! But I say, Miss Bedford, how nice and soft your hand is! and, I say, what a little one! Why, mine's twice as big!" Ella smiled, and went on smoothing the girl's rough hair, but hardly heeding what she said--only catching a word here and there. "I shouldn't never love Charley Vining," said Nelly, whose grammar was exceedingly loose, "but I should always like him; and if I don't marry Hugh Lingon, I mean to be an old maid, and wear stiff caps and pinners, and then--You're beginning to cry again, and it's too bad, after all this comforting up!" "No, indeed, my child," said Ella, rousing herself. "I was only thinking that when things are at the blackest some little ray of hope will peep out to light our paths." "I say," said Nelly, "is that poetry?" "No," said Ella, smiling sadly. "Ah, I thought it was," said Nelly. "But then I'm so ignorant and stupid! Mamma says I'm fit for nothing, and I suppose she's right! But there, I'm making you tired with my talking, and I won't say another word; only don't you fidget about Max--only snub him well; and I wouldn't tell pa or ma, because it might make mischief."