Elizabeth

Ermengarde opened her wet eyes wide.

Sarah thought a moment.

She saw she had made a mistake.

Ermengarde almost wailed in her reproachful dismay, and then, after one more look, they rushed into each other's arms.

It must be confessed that Sarah's small, black head lay for some minutes on the shoulder covered by the red shawl.

When Ermengarde had seemed to desert her, she had felt horribly lonely.

Afterward, they sat down upon the floor together, Sarah clasping her knees with her arms, and Ermengarde rolled up in her shawl.

Ermengarde looked at the odd, big-eyed little face adoringly.

Perhaps, wrinkling her forehead wisely, that is what they were sent for.

I don't see any good in them, said Ermengarde stoutly.

admitted Sarah frankly.

Amengard looked around the attic with a rather fearsome curiosity.

Sarah, she said,

Do you think you can bear living here?

Sarah looked round also.

She answered.

Or if I pretend it is a place in a story.

She spoke slowly.

Her imagination was beginning to work for her.

It had not worked for her at all since her troubles had come upon her.