human
Come here, little May, and kiss papa's friend. You remember papa, don't you?
gpt
Yes, said May, sitting on his knee contentedly.
human
Oh, yes! When is papa coming home? He said in mamma's letter he would fetch me lots and lots of dolls and picture-books. Is he coming home?
gpt
Not very soon, the colonel said, inexpressibly touched;
human
Yes, nodded May,
gpt
--looking up in his face with big, shining, solemn eyes--
human
I've got a pony, and I can ride lovely; and his name is Snowdrop, because it's all white; and Rupert's is black, and _his_ name is Sultan? And I've got a watch; mamma gave it to me last Christmas; and my doll's name--the big one, you know, that opens its eyes and says 'mamma' and 'papa'--is Sonora. Have you got any little girls at home?
gpt
One, Miss Chatterbox.
human
What's her name!
gpt
Aileen--Aileen Jocyln.
human
Is she nice?
gpt
Very nice, I think.
human
Will she come to see me?
gpt
If you wish it and mamma wishes it.
human
Oh, yes! you do, don't you, mamma? How big is your little girl--as big as me?
gpt
Bigger, I fancy. She is nine years old.
human
Then she's as big as Rupert--_he's_ nine years old. May she fetch her doll to see Sonora?
gpt
Certainly--a regiment of dolls, if she wishes.
human
Can't she come to-morrow? asked Rupert.
gpt
To-morrow's May's birthday; May's seven years old to-morrow. Mayn't she come!
human
That must be as mamma says.
gpt
Oh, fetch her! cried Lady Thetford,
human
I won't if she's nice, said May;
gpt
Nine years a widow, he mused.
human
They say she took her husband's death very hard--and no wonder, considering how he died; but nine years is a tolerable time in which to forget. She took the news of Everard's death very quietly. I don't suppose there was ever anything really in that old story. How handsome she is, and how graceful!