Patience began hurriedly gathering together the tea-things and
carrying them into the house, Jessie helping her.
"Wouldn't Miss--the lady like some tart, granny?" she asked, as she
saw her grandmother beginning to pick it up. To her it seemed that
every one must hunger for anything so delicious. Somehow, too, it
did not seem very kind to carry it all away from under their
visitor's very eyes.
"Well, now, I declare, I never thought of that," said granny pausing
and replacing the pie on the table, "at any rate, I can but ask her.
I'll put the kettle on, in case she hasn't had any tea."
Meanwhile Thomas had let their visitor in and welcomed her warmly,
and they came slowly up the path together, looking at the flowers as
they passed. Jessie stood by her little chair, watching the lady.
She knew she was the Miss Grace Barley who lived in one of the pretty
houses by the green, and she thought she looked as pretty as the
house and just right to live in it.
When they came close Miss Grace smiled at her, then stooped and
kissed her. "You are Jessie, I know," she said kindly. "I have seen
you in church with your granny and grandfather."
"Yes, miss," said Jessie shyly, not quite knowing what to say, but
feeling that something was expected of her, "and I have seen you
there."
Mrs. Dawson came out of the house, and Miss Grace shook hands with
her. "You must wonder to see me here at this time of day, Mrs.
Dawson," she said brightly. "The organist at Hanford is ill, and I
have been out there to play the organ at the morning and afternoon
services; I was on my way home when I caught sight of you all in your
pretty garden, and I couldn't resist coming in to join you."
"I'm sure we're very glad you did, miss," said Patience warmly.
"And you haven't had any tea yet, Miss Grace, I'll be bound now."
Miss Barley smiled and shook her head. "No, I have not, I am really
on my way to it, but I would rather sit here for a few moments first,
though, and talk to you."
"You can do both, miss, if you will," said Patience hospitably.
"I was about to clear the tea-things away, thinking they looked
untidy, when Jessie stopped me. She was sure you would like a piece
of apple-pie and cream, and I was sure you'd like a cup of tea with
it; so the kettle is on and I'll have a cup ready in a minute if
you'll excuse my leaving you. Thomas, give Miss Grace a chair," and
Patience bustled away into the house delighted.
Mr. Dawson brought out another chair, and he and Jessie seated
themselves one on each side of their visitor. Miss Barley withdrew
her admiring gaze from the distant view.
"Don't you love Sunday, Jessie?" she asked, laying her hand gently on
the little girl's shoulder. "A Sunday like this, when even the birds
and the cattle, and even the flowers seem to be more glad and happy
and peaceful than usual."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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