"I'd _give_ them the garden, for good and all, rather
than see you like that. Say Saturday, if it's fine; if not, Monday,
or when you like."
On the following morning the details were arranged, and the next day
Ida went to Litany Lane. She preferred to go alone, and on this
errand Mr. Woodstock would have found a difficulty in accompanying
her. Ida knew exactly the nature of the task she had taken in hand,
and found it easier than it would have been to the ordinary young
lady. She jotted down the names of some twenty little girls,
selecting such as were between the ages of eight and twelve, and
obtained promises that all should be ready at a fixed hour next
Saturday. She met with doubts and objections and difficulties
enough, but only failed in one or two instances. Then followed fresh
talks with her grandfather, and all the details were arranged.
There was rain on the Thursday and Friday, but when Ida drew up her
blind at six o'clock on Saturday morning, the sky gave promise of
good things. She was walking in the garden long before
breakfast-time, and gladdened to rapture as she watched the sun gain
power, till it streamed gloriously athwart cloudless blue. By one
o'clock she was at the end of Litany Lane, where the cart with long
seats was already waiting; its arrival had become known to the
little ones, and very few needed summoning.
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