Page:Milady at Arms (1937).pdf/48

 shade as my guardian's hair—Lord Holden! Indeed, his two little daughters have that same hair, also. Mayhap ye be related!" laughed Lawrence.

Sally's fresh laughter rang out also. "Of course we be related!" she mocked. "Hereafter ye will call me Milady, sir! See that ye do not forget!"

"Nay, but really" began the boy.

"Nay, but really not!" retorted Sally roundly, getting up from her cramped knees and looking down at him, honest mirth in her eyes." Lords and ladies are not apt to have homeless orphans floating around the world. And now," she walked around the garden bed to plump herself down upon its opposite side, "tell me about yourself. Are ye a lord, also?"

The boy, seated upon a three-legged stool with his back against an old cherry tree, shook his head. "Nay," he said briefly.

"Ah, why so sad about it?" remarked Sally, glancing up. "Well, Mary lass," she turned to look affectionately into the little face near her own, "what would ye, sweetheart?"

"Moth-er hath thaid I might ha' thom 'trawberries. Thally, an ye will giveth me thom," answered the little girl, rolling her eyes at the stranger.

He laughed and held out his hand; and, to Sally's surprise, the usually shy child walked into his arms. When she returned with a basket of straw-