Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/36

22 “Well, I only hope that you did n’t hurt the young girl’s feelings.”

“Oh, I hope not, mamma, although she had the most stand-off kind of a manner. I really can’t describe it. But then, mamma, you ought not to say anything, for if I  had n’t been thinking of what you said about looking for  a laundress on the back road, I probably would n’t have spoken as I did. Just as soon as I saw those clothes, I thought of what you said.”

“I must say,” replied Mrs. Barlow, “that most of the people who live up in that neighborhood are working people. I hardly see why any one should live there who was not employed by the summer residents. I wonder why the family of your interesting girl should live there. There’s no view, and it’s not near the water.”

“I wonder, too,” said Brenda, “and I should like to know when I am likely to see her again.”

“According to your own account, she did not seem particularly anxious to renew the acquaintance,” remarked  Mr. Barlow. Brenda had not spared herself in telling the story.

“Oh, I ’ll be sure to see her somewhere before the summer is over. If she does n’t come my way, I ’ll look her up, even though it will be somewhat like bearding the lion in his den.”

“A case of love at first sight,” said Julia.

“Almost, but not exactly. I simply want to know more about her.”