"One year and eight months," corrected Charles. "I don't see what difference it can make. I shall be the tallest and earn the money. And she isn't my own sister. She isn't any real relation. But if she was my cousin I could marry her."
The squire laughed heartily, which rather disconcerted Varina.
"Truly," he said, "love seems to have broken out as a distemper. And so you want Annis for a sweetheart, Charles? What does Annis say to all this?"
Annis was caressing her mother's hand.
"She likes me better than anybody except her mother."
"Oh, little Annis, have you thrown me over? And after the pony, too!"
The squire's voice was whimsically upbraiding, and his glance touched her tender heart. She flew over to him.
"Oh, I do love you!" she cried. "But you have mamma, and I know I can never get back all of her."
"Do you want all of her back? Would you take her away?"
"I wouldn't have any home to take her to. And she likes it here and all the children and you, and I like it too now. I don't mind giving part of her away."