Winnie's expression at the novel idea of teasing Uncle Fred's being anybody's baby was one of such amazement that they all laughed, though Winnie herself hardly appreciated the joke.
"Never mind," said Uncle Fred, slipping a bag of chocolates into her hands as a peace-offering, "you know I must tease someone, and your Aunt Kitty is more invulnerable than Achilles himself, for I think that even her heel was dipped."
"Oh, I have a vulnerable point," laughed Aunt Kitty, though a close observer might have noticed a queer little sober look about her eyes and mouth, "and it is this"—putting one of Winnifred's creams into her mouth: "the absolute cruelty of giving someone else a paper of chocolates while I'm present. By the way, Winnie, let's go into the kitchen and make some taffy, while my mother instructs your mother how to bring up children in the way they should go; for that she knows how to do it, witness your Uncle Fred and myself as bright and shining examples."
But for once Winnie held back. At last she said: "Norah won't like it; she's cross to-day. She wouldn't help me get Ralph ready to go down town."
"Oh, Winnie, I'm afraid you've been at your old tricks. But come on; I'll manage Norah, and she has probably forgiven you before this."
This proved to be the case, and Norah, who was very fond of Aunt Kitty, was so good-natured, not even grumbling about the "muss," that Winnie felt as if she were having coals of fire heaped on her head; and, not to be outdone in generosity, contritely begged Norah's pardon for the way she had spoken to her in the afternoon.
CHAPTER IV.
A RAINY DAY.
"'One by one the sands are flowing,'—comma—
One by one the moments fall;'—semicolon—
'Some are coming,'—comma; 'some are going;'—semicolon—