CHAPTER XIII
DICKEY'S VISIT
Kind hearts are more than coronets.
--_Tennyson._
Plainly furnished and small was the house to which I was taken by Miss
Katharine to stay during Polly's absence at her grandmother's in the
country. But though it was destitute of fine furnishings, it was the
abode of peace and love, and its lowly roof sheltered noble and kindly
hearts. The two sisters lived there alone, supported mainly by
Katharine's earnings in the millinery store, though occasionally the
sister, who was lame, added something to their little income by making
paper flowers and other articles of bright tissues. It was her
business to keep the house while Miss Katharine was at the shop, and
very long and lonely the hours must have seemed to her while her sister
was away.
The first day I was there a boy whom she addressed as John Charles came
to the house. Apparently he had been carefully trained, for he raised
his cap when the lame girl opened the door to his knock. His manners
were fine, for he remained standing after he entered until she had
first seated herself, as if to say, "A gentleman will not sit while a
lady stands."
He had come to inquire if she wished to buy some cooking apples.
"They are very nice," said John Charles briskly, quite as if he were an
old salesman.
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