Listening Valley Read Free Page A

started now,” added Maggie, lifting the heavy tray with a swing of her strong young arms. “You turn on the bath and get your things ready. I’ll be up in a minute—”

Chapter Two
Learning History
    Nannie was not sorry when her short holiday ended and she found herself back in her own comfortable nursery, for Nannie’s holiday was merely a change of work and a change for the worse. Nannie’s mother lived at Ryddelton and took lodgers in the summer months. When Nannie went home, she spent her time washing and scrubbing and polishing until everything in the house was as bright and shining as a new pin—for that was the way she was made—and as Nannie was not very young and was unused to hard work, she was very tired at the end of it.
    Nannie was small and rotund, she had rosy cheeks and bright brown eyes, and she always wore a crackly starched apron. Her name was Kate Dalrymple—like the lady in the song—and, to tell the truth, she was very proud of the fact that there was a song that might be said to be her exclusive property. Naturally enough, it was Nannie’s favorite song; she sang it to the children and hummed it cheerfully as she laid the nursery meals. She was a cheerful person. When she was not busy with the hundred and one little jobs that fell to her lot, Nannie employed her time with crochet; she was always working out new patterns and murmuring the complicated directions under her breath. She made crochet mats for her mother’s birthday, and crochet insertions for towels, and tablecloths with crochet lace, but her chief work, and one that employed her for months, was a set of crochet antimacassars for her mother’s sitting room.
    In spite of the holiday feeling that had prevailed in Nannie’s absence, the children were delighted at her return and welcomed her warmly. Tonia was especially glad to see Nannie back, for she was more dependent than Lou upon Nannie’s good offices. Tonia had the greatest difficulty in coping with buttons and shoelaces—in fact, with anything that required nimble fingers—and Nannie understood this disability and was reasonably patient. Sometimes she grumbled, of course, and sometimes she seized Tonia’s hands (which were very small and frail) and looked at them thoughtfully, but usually she just did up the buttons and tied the laces without any comment.
    â€œDid you enjoy your holiday?” Tonia inquired.
    â€œNot much. I’m getting too old for holidays,” replied Nannie with dry humor.
    â€œI suppose the lodgers were a nuisance,” said Lou.
    â€œWhy does your mother have them?” Tonia wanted to know.
    â€œTo make money,” replied Nannie, who was always more communicative when she returned from Ryddelton and less inclined to turn aside a straight question. “People have to make money so as to buy food and clothes; besides what would be the use of having a lovely house and not taking in lodgers? It’s not like an ordinary house, you know,” said Nannie proudly. “People come back there year after year; nice people, too.”
    â€œWhy isn’t it like an ordinary house, Nannie?”
    â€œBecause it belonged to your Great-Aunt Antonia, of course. I’ve told you half a dozen times.”
    â€œDid your mother buy the house?”
    â€œWell, what a question. How would she have the money to buy it—and the furniture and everything? The house was given to her by old Mr. Melville, your grandfather, because she had been housekeeper at Ryddelton Castle for years and years. He gave it to her when old Miss Antonia died. That’s what happened. He gave her a pension, too—but you don’t understand all that.”
    â€œI do,” declared Lou earnestly. “It’s very interesting, Nannie. What did Grandfather do when he gave away his house?”
    â€œGoodness! As if you didn’t know! I’ve told you already it was old Miss