. Nancy Lee . and the butler guardedthe ends, Nancy dexterously dragged forth thekitten. You naughty little thing! she scolded it. Here, Sarah, youd better take it again. Itsmore used to you, I guess/3 You could do with a basket, I think, miss,the butler suggested impassively. If youll be seated a moment He waved at the settle and vanished through a door beyond it. Goodness me, Sarah ! Nancy dropped breath-lessly down on the seat and looked around her. This is a terribly grand house. I dont believethey ever have kittens in houses as grand as this. Dont they ? said Sarah sadly. I dont seewhy no
. Nancy Lee . and the butler guardedthe ends, Nancy dexterously dragged forth thekitten. You naughty little thing! she scolded it. Here, Sarah, youd better take it again. Itsmore used to you, I guess/3 You could do with a basket, I think, miss,the butler suggested impassively. If youll be seated a moment He waved at the settle and vanished through a door beyond it. Goodness me, Sarah ! Nancy dropped breath-lessly down on the seat and looked around her. This is a terribly grand house. I dont believethey ever have kittens in houses as grand as this. Dont they ? said Sarah sadly. I dont seewhy not, Nancy. If I could have anything Iwanted Oh, yes, agreed Nancy hastily, so would —sh ! Somebodys The somebody was a lady who was runningdown the stairs in the greatest kind of a hurry, ap-parently. She was a tiny little thing, with a pretty,pale face, great dark eyes, and a long black dressthat swished softly after her as she ran. She was undoubtedly the mistress of this very grand estab- 144. THE LADY SMILED THE RUNAWAY KITTEN lishrnent, but Nancy didnt feel a bit afraid of her ;instead she felt as if she ought somehow to protectsuch a tiny, pale-cheeked creature from the shockof finding two strange girls and a stray kittenwaiting in her front hall. So, Good-afternoon, began Nancy, walkingtoward the foot of the stairs. Without the least sign of surprise the ladystopped on the lowest landing, looked at Nancywith a smile, and returned her good-afternoon cor-dially. Good-afternoon/ echoed little Sarah, followingNancy and curtseying gravely as she spoke. The lady smiled again and spoke to Sarah, andthen she came a step nearer, reached out a thinlittle hand, and touched first Nancy and thenSarah gently on the shoulder. Why, youre real! she cried exultantly. Youre both real! This house used to be full ofreal girls, but nowadays theyre all shadows—onlyshadows. Oh, Im so glad youre real! Come andsit down again and talk to me. Nancy Lee wasnt easily frightened, but
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidnancylee00du, bookyear1912
