Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/250

232 “Down, down, Fidessa,” and, in obedience to Miss South, the greyhound crouched at her feet for a second, then, with  a run and a leap, she reached the piazza, where she stood  panting with excitement, as they walked up the steps.

“Much ado about nothing,” said Julia, patting Fidessa on the head, and this delicate attention so overcame the little  creature that she jumped into Julia’s arms, where she  cuddled very contentedly with her head on the young girl’s  shoulder.

“Now come out on the side piazza, where we can have a good view of the harbor. Is n’t it lovely?” and Miss South arranged some wicker chairs so that they could look over  toward the town. Then she pulled forward a round wicker table, and, excusing herself, went into the house for a moment. When she reappeared, she was followed by Jane, who carried a tray with glasses, plates, and a biscuit jar.

“The lemonade will be here in a minute,” said Miss South, “and in the mean time we can enjoy the æsthetic  pleasure of the view. My grandmother is lying down, but she hopes to see you before you go.”

“Does she like it here?” asked Julia, with interest.

“Well, of course she has hardly been here long enough to tell, but she feels sure that she will.”

As Julia glanced about her, she could not help contrasting the very simple surroundings with those to which Madame DuLaunay had been accustomed. Her Boston house was large and imposing, and filled with all kinds of beautiful objects. But the curtains were usually drawn, and the house was so far back from the street that it had