It was a curious instinct, but he felt it strongly and was almost grateful to the old man for stolidly keeping his seat.

So he sat beside Nellie and talked to her, to the child's intense delight; she had not enjoyed the evening very much, for she felt the general sense of oppression as keenly as children always feel such things, and she had long exhausted the slender stock of illustrated books which lay upon the table in the vicarage drawing-room.
"There is no more skating now," said John.

"What do you do to amuse yourselves ?" "I am studying history with mamma," answered Nellie, "and that takes ever so much time, you know.

And then--oh, we are beginning to think of the spring, and we look after the violet plants in the frames." "It does not feel much like spring," remarked John.
"No--and mamma has not been well lately, so we have not done much of anything." "Has she been ill long ?" asked John.
"No--oh no! Only the last two or three days, ever since--" Nellie stopped herself.

Her mother had told her not to mention the tramp's visit.
"Ever since when ?" asked John, becoming suddenly interested.
"Ever since the last time the Ambroses came to tea," said Nellie with a readiness beyond her years.