“Your doll, darling?” questioned Grandma.
“Isn’t our little woman pretty big for a doll?”—this from Uncle John.
“It’s just—I—I want something to—to hold, and love,” Phœbe explained.
“Won’t you come to me, darling?” asked Grandma.
“I’m—all right,” Phœbe declared reassuringly.
“Uncle John loves you, Phœbe,”—it was Uncle John again, and he was actually referring to himself in precisely the way that Uncle Bob and her father always did. “Uncle John never had a little girl, so his love goes out to you.”
“Thank you,” said Phœbe.
Uncle Bob had come in while his brother was speaking. He grinned at Phœbe across the room. “How about the fat old Judge?” he demanded. “Is he any comfort?”
She nodded vigorously.
“Oh, we all love you, dear,” quavered Grandma.