They arrived at the cottage, and Edward and Pablo were busy unpacking
the cart, and putting all the contents into the inner chamber, where
Pablo now slept, when Alice, who, with Edith, had been talking to the
boy, came to Edward and said,
"Edward, she's a girl!"
"A girl!" replied Edward, astonished.
"Yes, she has told me so, and wished me to tell you."
"But why does she wear boys' clothes?"
"It was her father's wish, as he was very often obliged to send her to
Lymington to a friend's house, and he was afraid of her getting into
trouble; but she has not told me her story as yet--she says that she
will to-night."
"Well, then," replied Edward, "you must make up a bed for her in your
room to-night. Take Pablo's bed, and he shall sleep with me. To-morrow
morning I will bring some more bedding from her cottage."
"How Humphrey will be surprised when he comes back!" said Alice,
laughing..
"Yes; she will make a nice little wife for him some years hence; and
she may prove an heiress, perhaps, for there is an iron chest with
money in it."
Alice returned to her new companion, and Edward and Pablo continued to
unload the cart.
"Well, Pablo, I suppose you will allow that, now that you know she is
a girl, she is handsomer than you?"
"Oh yes," replied Pablo, "very handsome girl; but too much girl for
handsome boy.
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