If you
are going out, it ought to be to church. I don't see what call you have
to be going anywhere else on Sunday evening."
"I want to see Ruth Craven. Don't keep me, please; it is very
important."
"But I don't know who Ruth Craven is."
"Oh, mother, I thought every one knew her. She is the very, very pretty
little granddaughter of old Mr. Craven, who lives in that cottage close
to the station."
"A handsome old man, too," said Mrs. Hopkins, "but I confess I don't
know anything about him."
"Well, he and his old wife have got this one beautiful grandchild, and
she has joined the foundationers at the Great Shirley School. Miss
Kathleen O'Hara has taken up with her as well as with me and other
foundation girls, and instead of having a miserable, dull, down-trodden
life, we are extremely likely to have the best life of any girls in the
school. Anyhow, I have a message for Ruth and I promised to deliver it."
"All right, child; don't be longer away than you can help."
Susy left the house. The distance from her mother's shop to the Cravens'
cottage was a matter of ten minutes' quick walking. She soon reached her
destination, walked up the little path which led to the tiny cottage,
and tapped with her fingers on the door. The door was opened for her by
old Mrs. Craven. Mrs. Craven was in her Sunday best, and looked a very
beautiful and almost aristocratic old lady.
"Do you want my grandchild?" she said, observing Susy's size and dress.
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