Crump, hesitating, "I should like to have a chance
to wash out some clothes for her. I want her to appear as neat a
possible, when she meets her mother."
The nurse hesitated.
"I do not wish to hurry you. If you will let me know when she will
be ready, I will call for her."
"I think I can get her ready early to-morrow morning."
"That will answer excellently. I will call for her then."
The nurse rose, and gathered her shawl about her.
"Where are you going, Mrs. Hardwick?" asked the cooper's wife.
"To a hotel," was the reply.
"We cannot allow that," said Mrs. Crump, kindly. "It is a pity if we
cannot accommodate Ida's old nurse for one night, or ten times as
long, for that matter."
"My wife is quite right," said the cooper; "we must insist upon your
stopping with us."
The nurse hesitated, and looked irresolute. It was plain she would
have preferred to be elsewhere, but a remark which Mrs. Crump made,
decided her to accept the invitation.
It was this. "You know, Mrs. Hardwick, if Ida is to go with you, she
ought to have a little chance to get acquainted with you before you
go."
"I will accept your kind invitation," she said; "but I am afraid I
shall be in your way."
"Not in the least. It will be a pleasure to us to have you here. If
you will excuse me now, I will go out and attend to my dinner, which
I am afraid is getting behindhand.
Pages:
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61