Clematis Part 7

"No, I never had to do any work."

"Well, you will have to be doing some work round here. It's lucky for you that Mrs. Snow is good to little girls. You would have a hard row to hoe in some homes, believe me."

Clematis was busy tying her hair ribbon round Deborah's neck, and did not answer.

The morning went fast, and the dinner was ready before Clematis was ready to leave her kitten.

For dinner they had soup, in the little yellow bowls, with a big piece of Johnny cake, and some ginger bread.

As soon as dinner was over, Miss Rose brought Clematis a brown coat.

It was not new, but it was neat and warm, much better than the one she had worn the day before.

"Come, Clematis," she said, "I am going out to walk. Don't you want to go with me?"

"Where are you going?" asked Clematis, shrinking back.

"Oh, out in the park, and down by the river. I think you will like it."

Clematis put on the coat as quickly as she could. Then she took Miss Rose by the hand.

"Come on, let's go," she said.

"You might wait till I get my coat and hat on." Miss Rose was laughing at her.

Soon they were down by the river. Miss Rose sat on the gravel, while Clematis ran along the edge of the water.

She sailed bits of wood for boats, and threw little stones in, to see the rings they made. She was very, very happy.

"Clematis," said Miss Rose, "don't you remember the street you lived on?"

Clematis thought a minute.

"How would you know the street you lived on if n.o.body ever told you?"

Miss Rose thought a moment.

"Don't you remember your mother's name?"

Clematis shook her head.

"I don't remember. It was a long time ago."

"Do you mean she died a long time ago?"

Miss Rose asked her some other questions. At last she said:

"Well, tell me the name of the man you lived with."

"His name was Smith."

"Oh dear, there are so many Smiths, we shall never guess the right one. Dear me, Clematis. I don't know how we shall ever find your home."

Clematis threw a big stone into the water, which made a big splash.

"I hope you never will," she said.

"Why, Clematis! Do you mean that you wish never to go back where you came from?"

"Well, how would you like to live in a place where you had to stay in an old brick yard all day, and never saw even gra.s.s?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: Thinking of the land of flowers]

Miss Rose thought a while. Then she got up and started back to the Home.

Clematis followed her slowly. She was sorry to go.

That night Mrs. Snow talked with Miss Rose again.

"She must have lived in the city," said Miss Rose. "She had to stay in a yard paved with bricks all day. She doesn't remember her parents at all. She ran away, that is sure."

"I hardly know what to do," said Mrs. Snow, at last. "She can stay here for a while, and perhaps the people she lived with will find her here."

So Mrs. Snow told the policeman what they had found out, and he said they would do the best they could to find her people.

That night Clematis did not go to the little room near the maple tree to sleep. She went into the big room.

Jane slept in the bed next to hers. Miss Rose told her to see that Clematis had what help she needed in going to bed.

The day had been a busy one for Clematis. She was very sleepy.

"I guess I won't bother with teeth and things tonight," she said to herself.

So she pulled off her clothes, and got into bed.

"Oh Clematis, you can't do that. You've got to pick up your clothes, and clean your teeth, and do lots of things."

Jane came and shook her, as she snuggled under the clothes.

"Oh, I'm too tired tonight. I'll do it tomorrow night."

Clematis did not stir.

Just then Miss Rose came into the sleeping room.

She saw Jane trying to get Clematis out of bed. She also saw the pile of clothes.

"Clematis, I can't have this. Get right out of bed, and do as I told you last night."