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           "Ofcourse,ma’am; itwasonlythatIthoughtalittlegirlheremight—mightbrightenthingsupforyou,"shefaltered. 

           "Thankyou,"rejoinedthelady,dryly. "Ican’tsay,however,thatIseeanyimmediateneedforthat." 

           "But,ofcourse,you—you’dwanther,yoursister’schild,"venturedNancy,vaguelyfeelingthatsomehowshemustprepareawelcomeforthislonelylittlestranger. 

           MissPollyliftedherchinhaughtily. 

           "Well,really,Nancy,justbecauseIhappenedtohaveasisterwhowassillyenoughtomarryandbringunnecessarychildrenintoaworldthatwasalreadyquitefullenough,Ican’tseehowIshouldparticularlyWANTtohavethecareofthemmyself. However,asIsaidbefore,IhopeIknowmyduty. Seethatyoucleanthecorners,Nancy,"shefinishedsharply,asshelefttheroom. 

           "Yes,ma’am,"sighedNancy,pickingupthehalf-driedpitcher—nowsocolditmustberinsedagain. 

           Inherownroom,MissPollytookoutoncemoretheletterwhichshehadreceivedtwodaysbeforefromthefar-awayWesterntown,andwhichhadbeensounpleasantasurprisetoher. TheletterwasaddressedtoMissPollyHarrington,Beldingsville,Vermont; anditreadasfollows: 

           "DearMadam:—IregrettoinformyouthattheRev.JohnWhittierdiedtwoweeksago,leavingonechild,agirlelevenyearsold.