"I don't quite remember," she said quietly; "but I s'pose there were other fathers and mothers who might have liked me besides you and Daddy."
"No," said her mother, shaking her head at her; "there was nobody in the wide world who wanted to have you but Daddy and me. And there would be nobody who could love you, and put up with your antics, as we do, so be thankful you are our child and no one else's. Gus, she must be educated; how is it to be done?"
Mrs. Broughton turned to her brother eagerly as she spoke.
He laughed.
"She's tied by the leg for a good month at least, so we won't load her with education just now. My dear Minna, have you brought any luggage with you? Are they getting your room ready? Will you have some tea?"
"Yes, yes, yes," cried Dreamikins' mother. "Carrie is seeing to everything. I am going to sit here, and do nothing but talk."
She did it in her gay fascinating way, first turning to one of the invalids and then the other. When tea came she poured it out, and the afternoon seemed crammed with sunshine to both Dreamikins and her uncle.
Dreamikins told her mother all about her little friends; in fact her tongue ran on so fast that she quite forgot her leg, until a sudden twinge of pain reminded her, and then her mother took her in her arms, bandaged leg and all, and kissed and fondled her, and sang little gay songs which took away the pain.
When Dreamikins was at last carried off to bed, her mother went into the house, and later on came to dinner in a lovely white lace gown, and Fibo assured her that she was younger and prettier than ever.
"And I hope wiser and better," said Mrs. Broughton, laughing. "I feel I ought to be very clever to have to deal with my small daughter. You manage her best. We love each other dearly, she and I, but we have passages of arms, and then we get very angry with one another, and that isn't good for her or for me. Will you have her, Gus, for a good three months? I'm tired of doing nothing but amuse myself, now every woman is working. And a friend of mine wants me to go out to France with her and help her to work a young women's hostel. Now don't pull a long face, but wish me all success."