he house, although the house
door was also the kitchen door. After entering the front door she stood
in the small kitchen and was at once before another door which led into
the living-room. This door stood wide open and Sally found herself
suddenly in the presence of a lady dressed in black, who sat in that
room sewing and who lifted her head at Sally's noisy entrance, and with
large sad eyes she looked at the child in silence.

Sally grew as red as fire and in her embarrassment remained standing
near the door like one rooted to the floor.

Now the lady held out her hand and said in a friendly tone, "Come here,
dear child, what brings you to me?"

Sally was quite confused. She did not remember why she had come, for she
had really not come to see Marianne. She had invented that--to get into
the house where she had arrived now so unexpectedly. She approached the
lady and wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Sally grew
crimson and stood there more helpless than ever before in her life.

The lady took the child's hand and stroked her glowing cheeks.

"Come, sit down beside me, dear child," she then said, with a voice so
sweet that it went deep into Sally's heart. "Come, we shall come
gradually to know each other a little."

[Illustration: _Now the lady held out her hand and said in a friendly
tone, "Come here, dear child."..._]

Now there came from out of a corner a quick noise of moving; Sally did
not know what it was, for until now she had not dared to look around the
room, but now she looked up.

A boy, a little taller than she, was carrying a small easy chair and
placed it before Sally. He looked at her with such a merry face as the
restrained laughter came so visibly out of his eyes, that the sight
brought a complete reversion in Sally's feelings, and she, all at once,
laughed right out; upon which, the boy too, relieved his feelings by a
bright peal of laughter, for the rushing in and then the confusion of
the unexpected guest had long since tempted him to laugh; but he was too
well trained to dare to break out.

"Well, my child," said the mother with that winning voice, "and what has
brought you to me?"

"I have--I ought to--I wanted," Sally began hesitatingly, "I wanted to
give a message to Marianne--" Sally could not stop at half the truth.
The sad, friendly eyes of the lady were penetratingly resting on hers,
so everything had to come out as it was.

"That is lovely and friendly of you,