"I breathe again," she said; "sit down and let me look at you. Well, you are better, I think; you have a nice little bit of colour, but you must get much, much fatter. Are the chickies asleep? Dear child, I must congratulate you! You are a marvellous person. We have never had such peace in the house as we have had since you have been here--have we, Dennis? And you are such a child yourself! How is this sort of thing done? I suppose it comes naturally to you."
"I am so glad you are satisfied with me," Caroline said. She sat down and looked about her curiously, and yet with pleasure. The dainty appointments, the rosebud chintz, the lace-covered bed, upon which was spread the gown Mrs. Lancing was going to wear, the crystal-topped toilet table with its burden of brushes, and jars, and scent-bottles, and nicknacks, the cosy chairs, the soft carpet, all made a picture of prettiness, luxury, and comfort such as had not even visioned itself in her imagination, busy as that had been at times. Portraits of the children abounded, and in the middle of the mantelshelf Caroline noticed a large cabinet photograph of Edward Lancing. The children had a smaller one like it in the nursery.
Betty kissed it every night after she had said her prayers, and Baby, of course, always clamoured for daddy's picture to do the same thing. Although, as Betty said frequently, "You never knowed him, so he isn't properly your daddy."
Caroline brought her wandering attention to order sharply.
Dennis had begun to comb out the brown curls and arrange them in a loose and a graceful manner, fastening them here and there with a sparkling pin.
"I have brought a list of the things that the children want."
"Do they want anything? They had new coats and hats the day you came," said Mrs. Lancing.
She took the paper that Caroline handed her, and read it aloud.
"Stockings, nightgowns, flannels, shoes. Dear child! of course they shall have these things. But are they so badly off?"
"Yes; I have put everything together for you to see," she said. "I have only written down what is absolutely necessary."
"Now, isn't that shocking, Dennis?" said Camilla, with a note of desperation in her voice. "Doesn't it make you want to _shake_ nurse? ... What did she do with the things? She must have eaten them."