16 A YEAR WITH NELLIE.

as though she belonged to nobody. Come in-
side a minute, Nellie.”

She left the little girl sitting on a chair in
the hall, and disappeared. Presently she came
back with the empty basket in one hand, and
in the other a book with green cover and gilt
edges. Nellie’s eyes danced with pleasure.

“There, my dear, that’s a very pretty story;
I’ve read it myself, and like it very much.
I am glad to give it to you, because I think
you will take care of it, and enjoy it more than
some of the other children. Now, run, or you'll
be late for school.”

Nellie thanked her as well as she coat with
blushes that the doctor’s daughter took for a
sign of modesty and shyness, and ran off. But
though she tried to feel happy and pleased, she
could not help wishing she had won her book
in some other way.

“But I did not tell one single story!” she
thought, “so it couldn’t really matter after all.”

(286)