The tall lady gave something between a snort and a sigh.
"Would you allow them to accept a sovereign apiece then?"
"That would be permissible."
"I shall be back directly," and with astonishing speed she ran to the house with Colin and Giftie barking on either side of her. It was but a moment till she returned and pressed a golden sovereign into each languid hand. The sight of so much bullion all at once braced us for the moment, and we forgot to be miserable. She came with us to the gate, asking a dozen questions about ourselves, and our father, and Giftie's stay with us. Giftie had to be restrained from following us, and with sinking hearts we kissed her little black nose and said good-bye.
"Good-bye!" called the tall lady, "come again any time! Come and spend the day with us!"
Our governess called us peremptorily. She was half a block in advance.
When we reached the chair, she said, in a conciliatory tone: "I shall arrange for you to have some unusual treat from your reward, some concerts and lantern lectures suited to your years, and maybe, as the Christmas Season approaches, even a pantomime. What do you say?"
I looked at the woman. Was she mad to imagine that such paltry, sickly treats could make
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