"Come here a minute, will you ?" "Good evening, Jacques!" said Abby, in her quiet voice.

"Good evening to you!" she added, speaking kindly to the little stranger.

"I was coming to see if you wouldn't like to step into my house and rest you a spell.

Why, my heart!" she cried, as Marie raised her head at the sound of the friendly voice, "you're nothing but a child.

Come right along with me, my dear.