the open door she had overheard the warning and had stepped outside
to say: "Just go to Martha, Cornelli; the storm won't come for a long
time, I am sure."

So the child flew away while Esther passed Miss Mina, silently shrugging
her shoulders. That was always the way it happened when Cornelli wanted
anything. If Miss Mina thought that something should not be done,
Esther always arrived, saying that nothing on earth would be easier
than to do that very thing. Or, if she thought that Cornelli should
not do a thing, Miss Mina always helped to have it put through. The
reason for this was a very simple one: each of them wanted to be the
favorite with the child.

Cornelli, arriving at Martha's house, shot up the stairs and into the
little room. Full of excitement, she called out: "Just think, Martha,
two strange people are coming to our house. They are two ladies from
the city, and father said that I should be glad; but I am not a bit
glad, for I do not know them. Would you be glad, Martha, if two new
people suddenly came to visit you?"

The child had to take a deep breath. She had been running fast and had
spoken terribly quickly.

"Just sit down here with me, Cornelli, and get your breath again,"
said Martha quietly. "I am sure that somebody is coming whom your
father loves, otherwise he would not tell you to be glad. When you
know them, I am sure you will feel happy."

"Yes, perhaps. But what are you writing, Martha? I have never before
seen you write," said the child, full of interest, for her thoughts