ew more alert, though, wh

Instead of fire and lamp. Poppy did not like to look about
her, she knew it was not polite to do so, but her eye fell on the
dresser with its lovely china, and the blue bowl of primroses

and moss and ivy leaves on the little black table, and thought it all
more perfect even than she had

imagined. Guard, as though feeling
he was too large for the small room, went over and sat close against
the wall

by the window, shedding around him genial smiles in return for
all the
attentions lavished
on him. Anne was despatched for milk and biscuits; and while he was
gone Mademoiselle inquired for Esther, and how
she got home, politely hoping they had not been very anxious. "Yes, we
were;
we were very anxious, thank you," said Poppy, half absently. She was
looking at her hostess, and thinking of the story she had
heard of her. It seemed so wonderful that after going through such
terribl