Clare nodded.
"Presently. I'll look them over first. Muffins?"
She gave Louise a delightful meal and taught her to take tea with a slice of lemon. She was particular, Louise noticed; some of the muffins were not toasted to her liking, and were instantly banished; she criticised the cakes and the flavouring of the dainty sandwiches; then she laughed wickedly at Louise for her round eyes.
"What's the matter, child?"
"Nothing," said Louise, embarrassed.
"I believe you're shocked because I talked so much about food?"
Louise blushed scarlet.
"I like eating, Louise."
"Yes—yes, of course," she concurred hastily.
Clare was entertained. She knew quite well that Louise, like all children, considered a display of interest in food, if not indelicate, at least extremely human. She knew, too, that in Louise's eyes she was too entirely compounded of ideals and noble qualities to be more than officially human. She enjoyed upsetting her ideas.