"I shan't let him see me," cried Daisy, and, scrambling to her feet, she rushed into the house before the disturber of her peace came near her again.
A moment later Nellie heard her rippling laugh over some trifle which had taken her attention, and she knew that the April shower was over, and sunshine restored.
This little incident had so diverted Nellie's thoughts, and amused her so much, that for the time she forgot the subject of the conversation with her mother, which had been so abruptly broken off; and when she returned to her, she laughed merrily again as she related the cause of Daisy's trouble, and her indignation at having been taken for a boy.
Mrs. Ransom did not return to it. She thought that enough had been said, and she agreed with her husband in thinking that Nellie would feel a certain satisfaction in believing she exercised her own will and judgment in the matter.
"Here are the keys, dear," she said, when she and Nellie had laughed over Daisy's tribulations; "and it is time Catherine had her orders for the day. Go first to the kitchen and tell her"--and here Mrs. Ransom gave Nellie the necessary directions, which she in her turn was to repeat to the cook. Then she was to ask the woman what was needed from the store-room, and to give out such things.
"What's Nellie going to do?" asked Carrie, who had come in, and stood listening while her mother gave Nellie her directions.
"I'm going to be mamma's housekeeper," said Nellie, feeling at least a head taller with the importance of all this responsibility.
"Oh!" said Carrie, looking at her with admiration, and quite as much impressed as she was expected to be.
"You can come with me, and see me, if you want to," said Nellie.
"And can I help her, mamma?" asked Carrie.
"Yes, if Nellie is willing, and can find any thing for you to do," answered Mrs. Ransom.
Thoroughly interested now in her new undertaking, Nellie had for the time quite forgotten lessons, "Bible subjects," and other tasks, till Carrie said,--
"What are you going to do, Nellie, when you have finished keeping house?"
"I think it will take me a good while to do all the housekeeping," replied Nellie. "When that is finished, I will see. Oh! I'll go down to the beach with you, Carrie, if mamma says we may."