her tongue, told her all about themselves, and their father and mother in
Canada, and how they four came to Cousin Charlotte's because no one else
could have them, and how frightened they ware until they saw her, but were
never frightened after, she was so kind; and how they all wanted to help
her, and how they tried all sorts of ways.

Mademoiselle was very interested in the parsley-bed, and Angela's hen,
and Esther helping in the house, and Penelope's desire to be able to play
the organ and sing; and Poppy chattered on, delighted to find so
interested a listener.

"I think it quite cheered her and did her good," she confided to Angela
later. "She said it did, and she asked me to come again; and I am to keep
threepennyworth of parsley for her every week. Isn't it lovely!
A whole shilling a month! Oh, I wish I had a whole garden to sow parsley
in. Do you think it will go on growing for ever, Angela?"

Angela did not know, but she was hopeful. Ephraim, however, thought that
at the rate she was picking it her crop would not last another month, and
strongly advised the clearing of a part of the bed and tilling more seeds.

But when Poppy went to Esther to tell her about her expedition, she met
with a disappointment. Esther did not seem at all pleased at the
attentions she had shown the invalids. She seemed, in fact, quite
annoyed.

"I was going myself," she said coldly, "by and by; but I sha'n't now, of
course. I don't suppose Mademoiselle Leperier wants the whole Carroll
family continually going to her house. It was not right for you, either,
to go all that way alone; it was not safe."

"I had Guard with me," said the crestfallen Poppy. "I didn't know you
wouldn't like it, Essie. I thought you--you would be glad." Her lip
would quiver a little as she spoke. "I--I only wanted to be kind to the
poor lady because she was kind to you, and I--didn't mean to go inside,
but she made me. Aren't you really going again, Esther? She expects you,
she said so."

"I can't go if all the rest of you keep going. Besides, Mademoiselle
won't want me."

"Oh yes, she will," cried Poppy, almost in tears. "She _does_ want you;
and--and I won't go any more if you don't like me to. You can take the
parsley for me. I wish now I hadn't promised to bring it; but they can't
get any one to come, and--and--" and then a tear really forced its way out
and fell; but at the sight of it Esther's better nature conquered her
temper