"I've not properly enjoyed myself once, since we said good-bye," she cried pathetically; "and England isn't 'home' as everybody calls it in India. It isn't one bit home to me! And I haven't even seen an animal since I came! Not a single one!"
Mrs. Keith had left the room, so Harebell poured out her soul with perfect freedom.
"How very disobliging of the animals!" said Mr. Graham with twinkling eyes. "For we do have some in England, you know."
"There ought to be horses, and cows, and cats, and dogs, and all kinds of pigs and chickens," went on Harebell gravely. "I've seen them in books that come from England, so I know. And there isn't one; no, not a little one in this house!"
She spread out her small hands tragically.
"At the bottom of the garden there is a stable," she continued. "Andy uses it for wood, and all kinds of rubbish. He says when this house was first built, the man of it kept a horse and trap. Aunt Diana doesn't like animals; but then, she can't like anything, poor thing—"
Harebell dropped her voice to a whisper.
"She's the snow queen, and has a lump of ice where her heart used to be!"
With big eyes she waited to see the result her statement would have upon Mr. Graham.
He looked at her gravely; then he said: