Mrs. Prime called out, "Mrs. Ellis, the boy has brought your strawberries, and the stalks an't off; he said they hadn't no time."
"That's too bad," exclaimed the tired housekeeper. "Who's going to take the stalks off, I should like to know? Kate is busy, and I can't do it."
"I will, Mrs. Ellis; let _me_ do it," said Gertrude, following Mrs. Ellis, who was now half-way downstairs.
"No, no! don't you, Miss Gertrude," said Mrs. Prime; "they'll only stain your fingers all up."
"No matter if they do; my hands are not made of white kid. They'll bear washing."
Mrs. Ellis was only too thankful for Gertrude's help. Belle and Kitty were doing their best to entertain Mr. Bruce, who, sitting on the door-steps, from time to time cast his eyes down the entry, and up the staircase, in hopes of Gertrude's reappearance; and despairing of it, he was about to depart, when his sister Fanny came running up the yard, and rushed past the assembled trio for the house.
Her brother, however, stretched out his arm, caught her, and before he let her go whispered something in her ear.
"Who is that wild Indian?" asked Kitty Ray, as Fanny ran across the entry and disappeared.
"A sister of mine," answered Ben, in a nonchalant manner.
"Why! is she?" inquired Kitty, with interest; "I have seen her here several times, and never took any notice of her. I didn't know she was _your_ sister. What a pretty girl she is."
"Do you think so?" said Ben; "sorry I can't agree with you. I think she's a fright."
Fanny now reappeared, and stopping a moment on her way upstairs called out, without any ceremony, "She says she can't come, she's busy."
"Who?" asked Kitty, in her turn catching Fanny and detaining her.
Mr. Bruce coloured slightly, and Belle Clinton observed it.
"Miss Flint said I might go up and bring down the birds."
"Her birds. I am going to hang them in the sun, and they'll sing beautifully."
She went, and soon returned with a cage containing the little monias sent by Willie from Calcutta.
"There Kitty," cried Belle; "those are the birds that wake us so early every morning."
"Very likely," said Kitty; "bring them here. Goodness! what little creatures they are!--do look at them, Mr. Bruce--they are sweetly pretty."
"Put them down on the door-step, Fanny," said Ben, "so that we can see them better."