Elsie danced downstairs and entered the room where her sister sat.
"Ugh, the ugly place!" said she. "It makes me shiver!"
"Better come into the den than lose the sweets," said Tom, opening the papers and pretending to eat greedily.
"He won't leave a drop!" cried Elsie, darting upon him.
Tom prolonged the playful struggle artfully enough; and when a truce was concluded it was only on condition that he should feed her with the sugarplums, and as he did not satisfy her greediness fast enough, there was a great deal of sport and laughter between the pair.
Elizabeth sat in the window and watched them, sighing sometimes and regarding Elsie with a strange pain in her eyes, as if annoyed and troubled that the happy creature could not leave her the full affection of this one heart.
"I want to go out on the water," said Elsie. "Will you take me, you ugly giant?"
"Won't I!" said Tom. "I'd take you to the moon if you liked."
"But I don't wish to try the moon, thank you; a nice long row will satisfy me. Come along, Bessie!"
"Not to-day," answered Elizabeth coldly.