miserable. What's the matter, my dear?"
And still she held out her arms.
"Dear grandmother," said Irene, "I'm not so sure that I haven't done
something wrong. I ought to have run up to you at once when the
long-legged cat came in at the window, instead of running out on the
mountain, and making myself such a fright."
"You were taken by surprise, my child, and are not so likely to do it
again. It is when people do wrong things willfully that they are the
more likely to do them again. Come."
And still she held out her arms.
"But, grandmother, you're so beautiful and grand with your crown on!
and
I am so dirty with mud and rain!--I should quite spoil your beautiful
blue dress."
With a merry little laugh, the lady sprang from her chair, more lightly
far than Irene herself could, caught the child to her bosom, and kissing
the tear-stained face over and over, sat down with her in her lap.
Madhuri Noah
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