Nell of Shorne Mills

"Well, Emma, her says she likes it well enough," replied the woman,

standing, with the instinctive delicacy of respect, with her firm hand

resting on the spotlessly white table; "leastways her would if there was

more air--it's the want o' air she complains of. Accordin' to she, there

bean't enough for the hoosts o' people there be. Oh, yes, the family's

kind enough to her--not that she has much to do wi' 'em; for she's in

the nursery--she's nursemaid, you remembers, Miss Nell--and the mistress

is too grand a lady to go there often. It's a great family she's in, you

know, Miss Nell, a titled family, and there's grand goin's-on a'most

every day; indeed, it's turnin' day into night they're at most o' the

time, so says Emma. She made so bold, Emma did, to send her best

respects to you in her last letter, and to say she hoped if ever you

came to London she'd have the luck to see you, though it might be from a

distance."

Nell nodded gratefully.

"Not that I am at all likely to go to London," she said, with a laugh.

"If I did, I should be sure to go and see Emma."

Emma's mother glanced curiously at Drake; and he understood the

significance of the glance, but Nell was evidently unconscious of its

meaning.

"And this is the gentleman as is staying at the cottage, Miss Nell?" she

said. "I hope your arm's better, sir?"

Drake made a suitable and satisfactory response, and Nell, having talked

to the two little girls, who had got as near to her as their shyness

would permit, rose.

"Thank you so much for the milk and cakes, Mrs. Trimble," she said. "We

were quite famishing, weren't we?"

"Quite famished," assented Drake.

Mrs. Trimble beamed.

"You be main welcome, Miss Nell, as 'ee knows full well; I wish 'ee

could ride out to us every day. And that's a beautiful horse you're on,

miss, surely!"

"Isn't it?" said Nell. "It's Mr. Vernon's; he is kind enough to lend it

to me."

Mrs. Trimble glanced significantly again at Drake; but again Nell failed

to see or understand the quick, intelligent question in the eyes.

"Speakin' o' Emma, I've got her letter in my pocket, Miss Nell; and I'm

thinkin' I'll give it 'ee; for the address, you know. It's on the top,

writ clear, and if you should go to London----"

Nell took the precious letter, and put it with marked carefulness in the

bosom of her habit.