"And are you yearning for lessons? I must tell my youngsters that."
"Oh no," said Harebell hastily. "I don't know anything about them, but it's the company I want."
Her aunt looked at Mrs. Garland with a slight smile.
"Harebell is a great talker," she said, "and wants more outlet for her tongue than she can get in this house."
"Oh, well," said Mrs. Garland quickly, "children will be children, and ought to be amongst their kind. We're poor company for them, Diana. But this seems a bit of originality. I hope she'll do my little ones good. They're hardly brilliant—I must own it! I suppose I expect too much; and, after all, genius brings much danger in its path. They're dears, both of them!"
Then she took hold of Harebell's hand and patted it.
"You want fattening up," she said; "too thin! She's much too thin, Diana. Have you tried Grape-nuts? And Benger's Food?"
Harebell looked horrified.
"I've come from India," she said; "it's only babies and old people who are fat there!"
"She has a good appetite," said Mrs. Keith indifferently.