never once needed it all the way to Norton.

Jessie was very glad, for she could not bear to think of anything
being punished on such a lovely afternoon. The birds were singing,
the hedges were covered with little green leaves, just bursting
forth. Here and there a blackthorn bush was in full flower, and
filled Jessie with delight. She sat very quiet, looking about her
with a serious happy face, drinking it all in, and evidently thinking
deeply. Her grandfather watched her with the keenest interest.

"I reckon it looks funny to you, don't it, little maid, after all the
streets and houses and bustle you've been accustomed to?" he asked at
last.

Jessie nodded. "There's such lots of room, and no peoples," she said
soberly, "and at home there was such lots of peoples and no room.
Where are they all gone, granp?"

"Gone to London, I reckon," answered granp, with a laugh.
"You'll find it quiet, and you'll miss the shops, little maid."

"Shops!" said granny indignantly; "we shall be in Norton in a little
while now, and there's shops enough there to satisfy any one, I
should hope."

But when they reached the little town, and Jessie was lifted down
from the cart, and put to stand in the street while granny
dismounted, she looked about her, wondering greatly where the shops
could be. There did not seem to be many people here either.
Two sauntered up to look at the donkey-cart, and to pass the time of