Page:Story of the robins.djvu/117

Rh you must," said Nanny; "besides, there's a pretty young lady come to see you, and if you go like a good girl, you shall have a piece of sugared bread and butter for your supper; and you shall carry the new doll which your godmamma gave you, to show to your little visitor."

These bribes had the desired effect, and Miss Addis went into the drawing-room; but instead of entering it like a young lady, she stopped at the door, hung down her head, and looked like a little simpleton. Harriet was so surprised at her awkwardness that she did not know what to do, and looked at her mamma, who said, "Harriet, my love, can't you take the little girl by the hand and lead her to me? I believe she is afraid of strangers." On this Harriet rose to do so; but Augusta, apprehensive that she would snatch her doll away, was going to run out, only she could not open the door.

Mrs. Benson was quite shocked to see how sickly, dirty, and ragged this poor child was, and how vulgar also, for want of education; but Mrs. Addis was so taken up at that instant with the old lap dog, which had, as she thought, fallen into a fit, that she did not notice her entrance; and before she perceived it, the child went up to the cradle in order to put her doll into it, and seized one of the kittens by the neck, the