doesn't like little girls with dirty faces. Do you, granp?"

"I like some little girls, no matter what their faces is like," he
said warmly, but recollecting himself, he added quickly, "Of course I
like 'em best with nice clean faces and hands and tidy hair.
Every one does."

"Mother said you didn't mind so much," she added brightly.

"Did she! did she now! Just fancy her thinking that!" The old man's
face quite lighted up at the thought of Lizzie's remembering.
"Yes, I used to dip the corner of my handkerchief in the brook
sometimes and wash her little face for her, so as she might go home
to her mother looking clean. Look, here is a little brook, shall I
wash yours over a bit, like I used to mother's?"

"Oh, please, please," cried Jessie delightedly.

So by the wayside they stopped and made quite a little toilette, her
face and hands were washed, and her hair put back neatly under her
shabby hat, and then they went on again.

Patience Dawson, looking anxiously out of the window, saw them at
last arrive at the gate, and her heart almost stood still with
excitement and nervousness. "Why, it might be five and twenty years
ago, and Thomas be bringing in Lizzie herself!" she gasped. Her face
flushed, tears suddenly brimmed over and down her cheeks. She longed
to run down the garden and take the little child in her arms and hold
her to her heart, but a sudden shyness came over her and held her
fast. She could only stand there and watch them and wait.