And every one enjoyed a good laugh at the idea of Nancy Brandon having nerves. CHAPTER XIV A PLEASANT SURPRISE It was all very exciting, but Nancy didn't want to think that she was really glad to get rid of her precious Whatnot Shop. Ted openly declared "he told her so," as boys will, but she politely drew his attention to the fact that she had fulfilled her contract, that she had earned money, quite a lot of money, in fact, and in now turning the shop over to Miss Manners she was following her mother's advice. It was a few days later than that evening when she and her mother offered the use of the shop to the little seamstress, and now they were preparing to call on Miss Townsend. "Suppose she says _she_ wants it back," faltered Nancy, just patting her dark hair back into the desired soft little bumps. "What would we say, Mother, if she just begged us to let her have it?" "Why dear, we could let her have a part of it, perhaps. She could come in and sell out what little stock you have, while Miss Manners is getting ready for her class." "Oh, but," pouted Nancy, "I would just hate to have her do that. If you ever saw the way she snooped around, Mother. And the way that dog acted!" Nancy's manner was very decidedly one of opposition to Miss Townsend and her dog. "Well, come along, dear," her mother urged, "we must not stay late. I have some notes to write up and I don't want to lose sleep over them." Whatever else bothered Nancy Brandon, an evening's walk through the country roads of Long Leigh, in a beautiful summer twilight with her arm locked tightly in her mother's, was balm enough to soothe and heal every slightest hurt and anxiety. "Mother-love," she actually cooed, in the softest little voice she could command, "I just love it tonight, don't you?" "Perfect," replied the happy mother, pressing lovingly upon the imprisoned arm. "And I am so glad, daughter-love, that you want to give up your business." There was a humorous little twist given to that last word, for Nancy's business was and had been something of a practical joke among the Brandons. "Let's walk around the old house," suggested Nancy, for they were at a fork in the road and needed to choose a way to Miss Townsend's. "Then, maybe we will discover something about Mr. Sanders' quarters." But just as they were about to turn into the lane that led past the old stone house, Ted hailed them from the hilltop. He wanted to know where they were going. He wanted to know if he could go along, and as they managed to make signs that gave at least a negative answer to this last request, they found themselves on the open road, walking directly away from the old stone house.