until you came, because it
is shady, but they all spoiled in the rain. Now I
am going to read in "Walton's Lives" to Aunt Mary.
She says it is a book everybody ought to know, and
that I run wild more than I ought at my age. I
like to read aloud, as you know, so good-by, but
my age is _such_ a trouble. If you were here, we
would have the best good time.

Your own child, BETTY.

XIII.

A GREAT EXCITEMENT.

THAT afternoon Betty's lively young voice grew droning and dull after a
while, as she read the life of Dr. Donne, and at last she stopped
altogether.

"Aunt Mary, I can't help thinking about the Fosters' father. Do you
suppose he will come home and frighten them some night?"

"No, he would hardly dare to come where they are sure to be looking for
him," said Aunt Mary. "Dear me, the thought makes me so nervous."

"When I have read to the end of this page I will just run down to see
Nelly a few minutes, if you can spare me. I keep dreading to see her
until I am almost afraid to go."

Miss Mary sighed and said yes. Somehow she didn't get hold of Betty's
love,--only her duty.

Betty lingered in the garden and picked some mignonette before she
started, and a bright carnation or two from Aunt Barbara's special
plants. The Fosters' house was farther down the street on the same side,
and Nelly's blinds were shut, but if Betty had only known it, poor Nelly
was looking out wistfully through them, and wishing with all her heart
that her young neighbor would come in. She dreaded the meeting, too, but
there was such a simple, frank friendliness about Betty Leicester that
it did not hurt as if one of the other girls had come.

There came the sound of the gate-latch, and Nelly went eagerly down.
"Come up to my room; I was sitting there sewing," she said, blushing
very red, and Betty felt her own cheeks burn. How dreadful it must be
not to have such a comforting dear father as hers! She put her arms
round Nelly's neck and kissed her, and Nelly could hardly keep from
crying; but up-stairs they went to the bedroom, where Betty had never
happened to go before. She felt suddenly, as she never had before, how
pinched and poor the Fosters must be. Nelly was determined to be brave
and cheerful, and took up her sewing again. It happened to be a little
waist of Betty's own. Betty tried to talk gayly about being very