Then he made his way back to the town and the nearest confectioner, and started for home just as Miss Nugent, who was about to pay a call with her aunt, waited, beautifully dressed, in the front garden while that lady completed her preparations.
Feeling very spic and span, and still a trifle uncomfortable from the vigorous attentions of Ann, who cleansed her as though she had been a doorstep, she paced slowly up and down the path.

Upon these occasions of high dress a spirit of Sabbath calm was wont to descend upon her and save her from escapades to which in a less severe garb she was somewhat prone.
She stopped at the gate and looked up the road.

Then her face flushed, and she cast her eyes behind her to make sure that the hall-door stood open.

The hated scion of the house of Hardy was coming down the road, and, in view of that fact, she forgot all else--even her manners.
The boy, still fresh from the loss of his natural protector, kept a wary eye on the house as he approached.

Then all expression died out of his face, and he passed the gate, blankly ignoring the small girl who was leaning over it and apparently suffering from elephantiasis of the tongue.