As Sally had been accustomed to do, she now ran right into the house, although the house door was also the kitchen door.

After entering the front door she stood in the small kitchen and was at once before another door which led into the living-room.

This door stood wide open and Sally found herself suddenly in the presence of a lady dressed in black, who sat in that room sewing and who lifted her head at Sally's noisy entrance, and with large sad eyes she looked at the child in silence.
Sally grew as red as fire and in her embarrassment remained standing near the door like one rooted to the floor.
Now the lady held out her hand and said in a friendly tone, "Come here, dear child, what brings you to me ?" Sally was quite confused.

She did not remember why she had come, for she had really not come to see Marianne.

She had invented that--to get into the house where she had arrived now so unexpectedly.