Page:Burnett - Two Little Pilgrims' Progress A Story of the City Beautiful.djvu/216

196 hay-rake, which she seemed to find very well worth study.

If the children and John Holt had not walked up and planted themselves immediately in her path, she would not have seen them. It gave Meg a little shudder to see how like her world she looked, with her hard, strong-featured face, her straight skirt and her square shoulders. They waited until she moved, and then she looked up and saw them. She did not start or look nervous in the least. She stared at them.

"Well," she said; "so this was the place you came to."

"Yes, Aunt Matilda," said Robin. "We couldn't let it go by us—and we took our own money."

"And we knew you wouldn't be anxious about us," said Meg, looking up at her, with a shade of curiosity.

Aunt Matilda gave a dry laugh.

"No," she said, "I've no time to be anxious about children. I took care of myself when I was your age; and I had a sort of notion you'd come here. Who are you with?"

John Holt lifted his hat, but without too much ceremony. He knew Mrs. Matilda Jennings' principles were opposed to the ceremonious.

"I'm a sort of neighbour of yours, Mrs. Jennings,"