ready all the time and work as hard as I can so they wonât be ashamed of me, for I guess my folks is respectable,â Patty replied, lifting her head with an air of pride that made the lady ask with a smile:
âWhat makes you think so?â
âWell, I heard the matron tell the lady who chose Nelly Brian that she always thought I came of high folks because I was so different from the others, and my ways was nice, and my feet so smallâsee if they ainâtââand slipping them out of the rough shoes she wore, Patty held up two slender, little feet with the arched insteps that tell of good birth.
Miss Murrayâfor that was her nameâlaughed right out loud at the innocent vanity of the poor child, and said heartily, âThey are small, and so are your hands in spite of work. Your hair is fine, your eyes are soft and clear, and you are a good child Iâm sure, which is best of all.â
Pleased and touched by the praise that is so pleasant to us all, yet half ashamed of herself, Patty blushed and smiled, put on her shoes, and said with unusual animationâ
âIâm pretty good, I believe, and I know Iâd be much better if I could only get out. I do so long to see trees and grass, and sit in the sun, and listen to the birds. Iâd work real hard and be happy if I could live in the country.â
âWhat can you do?â asked Miss Murray, stroking Pattyâs smooth head and looking down into the wistful eyes fixed upon her.
Modestly, but with a flutter of hope in her heart, Patty recited her domestic accomplishments. It was a good list for a thirteen-year-old, for Patty had been working hard for so long that she had become unusually clever at all sorts of housework as well as needlework.
As she ended, she asked timidly, âDid you come for a girl, maâam?â
âMy sister-in-law, Mrs. Murray, did, but she found one she likes and is going to take her on trial.â Her answer caused the light to fade from Pattyâs eyes and the hope to die in her heart.
âWho is it, please?â she asked.
âLizzie Brown, a tall, nice-looking girl of fourteen.â
âYou wonât like her, I know, for Lizzie is a realââ There Patty stopped short, turned red, and looked down as if ashamed to meet the keen, kind eyes fixed on her.
âA real what?â
âPlease, maâam, donât ask. It was mean of me to say that, and I mustnât go on. Lizzie canât help being good with you, and I am glad she has a chance to go away.â
Aunt Jane Murray asked no more questions, but she noted the little glimpse of character, and tried to brighten Pattyâs mood by talking about something of interest to her.
âSuppose your âfolks,â as you say, never come for you, and you never find your fortune as some girls do, canât you make friends and fortune for yourself?â
âHow can I?â questioned Patty, wonderingly.
âBy cheerfully taking whatever comes, by being helpful and affectionate to all, and by wasting no time dreaming about what may happen, but bravely making each day a comfort and a pleasure to yourself and others. Can you do that?â
âI can try, maâam,â answered Patty, meekly.
âI wish you would, and when I come again, you can tell me how you are doing. I believe you will succeed, and when you do, you will have found for yourself a fine fortune and confident certainty of your friends. Now I must go. Cheer up, deary, your turn will come one day.â
With a kiss that won Pattyâs heart, Miss Murray went away, casting more than one look of pity at the small figure sobbing in the window seat, with a blue pinafore over her face.
This disappointment was doubly hard for Patty because Lizzie was not a good girl and to her mind, did not deserve such good fortune. Besides, Patty had taken a great fancy to the lady who spoke so kindly to her.
For a week after this,