had serious thoughts of _tagging_, we
sent her up-stairs in quest of something which we knew was not there,
and then away we scampered down the green lane and across the pasture,
dropping once into some alders as Lizzie's yellow hair became visible
on the fence at the foot of the lane. Our consciences smote us a
little, but we kept still until she returned to the house; then,
continuing our way, we soon came in sight of the mine, which Nellie
determined to explore.

It was in vain that I tried to dissuade her from the attempt. She was
resolved, and stationing myself at a safe distance I waited while she
scrambled over stones, sticks, logs, and bushes, until she finally
disappeared in the cave. Ere long, however, she returned with soiled
pantalets, torn apron, and scratched face, saying that "the mine was
nothing in the world but a hole in the ground, and a mighty little one
at that." After this I didn't know but I would sometime venture in,
but for fear of what might happen I concluded to choose a time when I
hadn't run away from Liz!

When I presented Nellie to Mrs. Hudson she took both her hands in
hers, and, greatly to my surprise, kissed her on both cheeks. Then she
walked hastily into the next room, but not until I saw something fall
from her eyes, which I am sure were tears.

"Funny, isn't it?" said Nellie, looking wonderingly at me. "I don't
know whether to laugh or what."

Mabel now came in, and though she manifested no particular emotion,
she was exceedingly kind to Nellie, asking her many questions, and
sometimes smoothing her brown curls. When Mrs. Hudson again appeared
she was very calm, but I noticed that her eyes constantly rested upon
Nellie, who, with Mabel's gray kitten in her lap, was seated upon the
doorstep, the very image of childish innocence and beauty. Mrs. Hudson
urged us to stay to tea but I declined, knowing that there was company
at home, with three kinds of cake, besides cookies, for supper. So
bidding her good-by, and promising to come again, we started homeward,
where we found the ladies discussing their green tea and making large
inroads upon the three kinds of cake.

One of them, a Mrs. Thompson, was gifted with the art of
fortune-telling, by means of tea-grounds, and when Nellie and I took
our seats at the table she kindly offered to see what was in store for
us. She had frequently told my fortune, each time managing to fish up
a freckle-faced boy so nearly resembling her grandson