She came towards me, half feeling her way between
the tree boles, and though a child it seemed clung to her skirt, it
swerved into the leafage like a rabbit as she drew nearer.
"Is that you?" she said, "from the other side of the county?"
"Yes, it's me from the other side of the county."
"Then why didn't you come through the upper woods? They were there just
now."
"They were here a few minutes ago. I expect they knew my car had broken
down, and came to see the fun."
"Nothing serious, I hope? How do cars break down?"
"In fifty different ways. Only mine has chosen the fifty first."
She laughed merrily at the tiny joke, cooed with delicious laughter, and
pushed her hat back.
"Let me hear," she said.
"Wait a moment," I cried, "and I'll get you a cushion."
She set her foot on the rug all covered with spare parts, and stooped
above it eagerly. "What delightful things!" The hands through which she
saw glanced in the chequered sunlight. "A box here--another box! Why
you've arranged them like playing shop!"
"I confess now that I put it out to attract them. I don't need half those
things really."
"How nice of you! I heard your bell in the upper wood. You say they were
here before that?"
"I'm sure of it. Why are they so shy? That little fellow in blue who was
with you just now ought to have got over his fright. He's been watching me
like a Red Indian."
"It must have been your bell," she said.
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