Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/257

239 “Amy must be a very intelligent girl, to know so much about Marblehead.”

“Yes, she is, Miss South; she’s only my age, but she knows heaps more, because she’s studied at home, and  her mother reads everything, too. I hope she ’ll go with us to Salem. We ’re going there next.”

“Perhaps I can go with you, too, when you go to Salem,” said Miss South; “I should like to, if I can leave  my grandmother for the day. I have never been there, and it’s one of the places that I have always wished to  visit. I’d like to have been with you on your Marblehead pilgrimage; but I can make up for that by taking frequent little excursions while we ’re here. It’s only a few minutes across in the ferry. Oh, excuse me for a minute!”

And Miss South hastened off as the silvery tinkle of a little bell sounded from the house. In a few minutes she returned.

“My grandmother is very sorry, but this happens to be one of the days when she is very tired, and so she  cannot see you; but she hopes that you will come over  soon again, and she regrets that she has had to miss you  to-day.”

“We are very sorry, too,” responded Julia; “although it has been delightful to have had this hour with you. But it is time for us to be starting toward home.”

“When will the next barge pass?” asked Brenda.

“In just five minutes,” said Miss South, looking at her watch. “It’s nearly half-past four.”