'Oh, do tell me, Plantagenet!'
'Why,' said he, in a low voice, 'your mamma is crying.'
'Crying!' exclaimed Venetia; 'my dear mamma crying! I must go to her directly.'
'Hush!' said Plantagenet, shaking his head, 'you must not go.'
'I must.'
'No, you must not go, Venetia,' was his reply; 'I am sure she does not want us to know she is crying.'
'What did she say to you?'
'She did not see me; the Doctor did, and he gave me a nod to go away.'
'I never saw mamma cry,' said Venetia.
'Don't you say anything about it, Venetia,' said Plantagenet, with a manly air; 'listen to what I say.'