"Baby!" she exclaimed. She darted forward and vigorously shook the shoulder of the small person devouring bread and honey.
"Oh! you greedy greed. And you had such a lot of breakfast! I never knowed such a child in all my life," commented Betty severely; then, shrugging her shoulders, she turned to Mrs. Brenton. "I can't do nothing with her!" she said.
This remark provoked a scene in which Baby amply demonstrated that honey was excellent for strengthening the vocal cords.
Finally she consented to sit on Caroline's knee whilst her hands and little person generally were made clean, and then—Betty having eaten several biscuits meanwhile—the time for halting was declared at an end.
"If we don't go now we shall get no walk; and Miss Betty, please promise to hold my hand," pleaded Dennis the maid. "She do play such pranks, ma'am, she makes my heart fair jump, that she do."
But Betty and Baby were hanging on to Caroline.
"We want you to come out with us," was their cry; and Betty added magniloquently, "We'll be most awful good if you'll come too."
Mrs. Brenton smiled into Caroline's eyes.
"Put on your things and have a good run with them," she said.
A few moments later three persons attempted to go down a very narrow staircase abreast. It was a difficult occupation, and Caroline in the centre was quite wedged in. Useless was the voice of remonstrance from Dennis in the background, Betty and Baby refused to be separated from their new companion.