Page:Margaret Sherwood--A Puritan in Bohemia.djvu/104

96 "Isn't Miss Bradford rather blind to the ideal aspects of things?"

"Some things," answered Howard grimly, "and given to over-idealizing in others."

There was one small person whom Helen was able to reach and influence. This was Annabel. The child loved Miss Wistar. The sealskin cape had touched a chord in her nature that nothing had ever touched before. Helen had begun to teach her in the evenings. Annabel cast about in her mind for some way of showing her gratitude to her benefactor.

"What do you s'pose I heard Mr. Stanton say the other day?" she asked suddenly, on the night of the third lesson. Annabel had been slightly bored, and was pining for excitement.

"How can I tell?"

"I was a-coming through the hall. My little brother was ill, and I was taking him some broth. It was chicken broth," said Annabel, with an air of giving circumstantial evidence. "Mr. Stanton's door