And while I was recalling this, I heard Silvia saying to him kindly: “And in the meantime, I’ll be ‘mudder’ to you.”
“So will I,” chimed in Beth.
“I’ll be a big brother,” offered Rob.
“I’ll be next friend, Ptolemy,” I contributed.
Strange to say, my offer seemed to make the most impression on him. He came to me and gazed into my eyes earnestly.
“I’ll do just as you say,” he promised.
“Where do we’uns come in?” asked Pythagoras, with one of his satanic grins.
Miss Frayne saved the day.
“You all come in with me,” she said, “and have lunch. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I understand there is warm ginger cake and huckleberry pie. Aren’t you hungry?”