“I’m talking about that old Polly,” answered Adele.
“You absurd children!” said Miss Betty laughing. “Come, Jessie, don’t you want to meet your teacher? She is very anxious to meet you. Eloise, dear, this is your other little pupil.”
Jessie was conscious of a pair of gray eyes that looked at her very steadily but very kindly, and of two warm hands that held hers, but she was overcome with shyness and said not a word.
“Do you think you are going to like her more than you do me?” Adele asked Miss Eloise anxiously.
“You jealous little monkey,” said her aunt. “Why shouldn’t she like Jessie best? Don’t you want her to?”
“I want her to like us both alike,” replied Adele.
“A perfectly safe reply,” said Miss Eloise. “I hope I have a place in my heart big enough for both of you, my dears.”
“This is papa,” said Adele swinging Jessie around in front of Mr. Hallett, who held out his hand.
“I hope you and this will-o’-the-wisp of ours will be good friends,” he said to Jessie. “She needs some one to tone her down a little, and keep her from having tantrums.” He softly patted Adele’s hand as he spoke.
“Jessie has tantrums, too,” spoke up Adele, “but they are pouty ones, not screamy like mine.”