"Oh, I can't," cried Eleanor, burrowing into the soft neck.
"Yes, you can."
"I'm his sister. And you can't expect me to see them."
"Yes, I do," said Mary firmly; "it's exactly what you ought to do. I'm
going down to welcome them, and you must come too. Come on, Eleanor; we've
simply got to do it."
Eleanor, seeing nothing for it unless she were to be left alone on her
stair, which would have been the last thing to be endured, got up and
followed slowly, to be met at the big door leading to the side porch by the
company of gloomy-faced boys.
"Well boys," said Mary cheerfully, "I'm glad you've come to help Eleanor
and me."
Every boy looked up in great surprise, for they all supposed they were left
to comfort themselves.
"Can't we sit in the dining-room?" asked Mary, with a thought for the
cheerful red carpet and curtains.
"Mistress wants them to come up into her sitting-room," said Gibson.
"Her sitting-room!" exclaimed Mary.
"Yes, Miss. She says they can help Mrs. Keep and her," said Gibson,
standing with folded hands deferentially, but yet quite expecting the
command to be carried out.
The boys stood up a little taller yet. Evidently they were thought worthy
of consideration in the way of administering consolation instead of hanging
around, useless creatures in everybody's way.
"In that case," said Mary Taylor, "we'll all go upstairs at once.
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