She had been always used to run out in the pleasant twilight-time among
the flowers and water them, Antoine filling the can from the well; and
the neighbors would come and lean against the little low wall, knitting
and gossiping; and the big dogs, released from harness, would poke their
heads through the wicket for a crust; and the children would dance and
play Colin Maillard on the green by the water; and she, when the flowers
were no longer thirsted, would join them, and romp and dance and sing the
gayest of them all.
But now the buckets hung at the bottom of the well, and the flowers
hungered in vain, and the neighbors held aloof, and she shut to the hut
door and listened to the rain which began to fall, and cried herself to
sleep all alone in her tiny kingdom.
When the dawn came the sun rose red and warm; the grass and boughs
sparkled; a lark sang; Bebee awoke sad in heart, indeed, for her lost old
friend, but brighter and braver.
"Each of them wants to get something out of me," thought the child.
"Well, I will live alone, then, and do my duty, just as he said.
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