Charlotte, large-eyed through suffering, golden-haired through a miracle, the light of Herbert's life.
But her two passions had gotten her into the habit of going to all the services at St. Stephen's, and now Mrs. Partridge said they couldn't get along without her on the Altar Guild and in the Sunday school.
Kate turned the corner of West Street, and went up the path. She could hear scuttling inside, and whispering, after she rang the bell, and then the door was opened by messy Norah Nolan, with stove polish on her cheek, a whitish apron over her gingham one, and her sleeves rolled up.
"Howda do, Norah! Are the ladies— Oh, there you are, Carrie!"
Carrie emerged from a bulge of portière like a moth from a cocoon, and Kate laid her rain-glowing cheek against the ash-soft one.
"Kate Green! This rainy day! Well, if you aren't the greatest girl! Here, let me help you take off your rubbers. Kate! What marveelious cherry blossoms! Where did you get them?"
"They're pear blossoms, Carrie. I simply forced them in a sunny window, I thought Aunt Sarah might like them."
"A sunny window! Well, I suppose it's easy to have ideas if you can only think of them. Oh, Norah"
Norah would never have heard that faint cry if
