"
Nancy looked at both, bewildered; at last a light dawned into her mind, and
her face looked shrewdly and knowingly back at Mrs. Browne. Then she said,
very quietly:
"I think I'll take the next pitcher to the well myself, and try my luck. To
think how sorry I was for Miss Maggie this morning! 'Poor thing,' says I to
myself, 'to be kept all this time at that confounded well' (for I'll not
deny that I swear a bit to myself at times--it sweetens the blood), 'and
she so tired.' I e'en thought I'd go help her; but I reckon she'd some
other help. May I take a guess at the young man?"
"Four thousand a-year! Nancy;" said Mrs. Browne, exultingly.
"And a blithe look, and a warm, kind heart--and a free step--and a noble
way with him to rich and poor--aye, aye, I know the name. No need to alter
all my neat M.B.'s, done in turkey-red cotton. Well, well! every one's turn
comes sometime, but mine's rather long a-coming."
The faithful old servant came up to Maggie, and put her hand caressingly on
her shoulder. Maggie threw her arms round her neck, and kissed the brown,
withered face.
"God bless thee, bairn," said Nancy, solemnly. It brought the low music of
peace back into the still recesses of Maggie's heart. She began to look out
for her lover; half-hidden behind the muslin window curtain, which waved
gently to and fro in the afternoon breezes. She heard a firm, buoyant step,
and had only time to catch one glimpse of his face, before moving away.
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