rds that her
eyes rested on Susan, who had been staring at her all the while she had
been speaking, and who now felt that an answer of some kind was
expected. She had none to give, however, for she had not been listening
at all to what had been said, her mind being filled with wonder and awe
at Mrs Winslow, who talked as though she were reading aloud. She only
blushed, therefore, and immediately became aware that three pairs of
pale blue eyes were fastened upon her from the other side of the table.
The little Winslows never blushed, Margaretta had said, and of course
they thought her very silly. She longed for the meal to be over, and
the visit also. Why, she wondered, were Margaretta and Nanna so fond of
coming here? Margaretta did not look as if she were enjoying herself
much. She was sitting in a stiff position, with her head a little on
one side, watching every glance of Mrs Winslow's, so that she might
say, "yes, indeed," or "quite so," or "exactly," in the right place.
Her voice did not sound like the voice she had at Aunt Hannah's, but
smaller, and she said her words mincingly. Susan felt sure she was not
enjoying herself. Why _did_ she come?

Presently the conversation became more interesting, and Susan now
listened to it with some anxiety, for Mrs Winslow was making
arrangements for the afternoon, and she hoped to hear of an early return
to Belmont Cottage. She did not want to see any more of the little
Winslows, and quite longed to get back to Sophia Jane and tell her all
about them. It was disappointing, therefore, to hear it decided that
Margaretta should drive out with Mrs Winslow, who would leave her at
Aunt Hannah's, and that Susan should walk back later with Miss Pink and
the little people. Margaretta was almost to be envied. Perhaps it was
because she liked driving in a carriage with a pair of swift horses that
she liked coming here. And yet Mrs Winslow's presence would spoil
anything, Susan thought. If she went on talking like that, and
Margaretta had to sit up and listen to her and make little remarks, the
drive would not be worth having; it could not be much worse to walk home
with the little Winslows.

After dinner the little girls took their visitor into the schoolroom,
where they were to amuse themselves until it was time to start for their
walk. It was a large bright room like all the others in the house; but
this cheerfulness did not seem to have affected the Winslows themselves.