But a few minutes before the time fixed for his arrival a message
summoned her to the old lady, and she found that for a good half-hour
she would be unable to get away. All she could do was to rush to Mittie
and to give a hurried message--which she felt far from certain would be
correctly delivered.
Then for a moment she stood outside Mrs. Wills's room, choking back the
sobs which swelled in her throat, and feeling very sad and hopeless at
the thought of all she would miss, still more at the thought that her
absence might be misunderstood.
From the window, as she attended to her grandmother's wants, she had a
glimpse of Mittie, running gaily down the garden, in her pretty white
frock, carrying an open Japanese parasol in one hand, while from the
other dangled her hat and a small basket of flowers.
"Oh, Mittie, I wouldn't have done it to you--if you had cared as I do!"
she breathed.
When Mittie reached the stream, Ferris had that moment arrived.
He had made fast the painter, intending to run up to the house, and had
stepped back into the boat to put the cushions right.
A straight well-built young fellow, he looked eagerly up at the sound of
steps; and when Mittie appeared alone, a momentary look of surprise
came. But, of course Joan would follow!
Mittie wore her prettiest expression. She dropped her hat into the boat,
and he took her parasol, holding out a hand to help, as she evidently
meant to occupy her seat without delay.
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