But there was no division in Amy Kinsolving’s heart, and the lonesome look of her little Content touched her heart, as she leaned forward to lay her hand kindly upon the girl’s slender one. “A strange reunion, Fritz; a strange ruling of Providence that all my children’s children should have been brought to the old nest at one and the same time. Benjamin has sent us his motherless Content, that we may rear her to good and housewifely ways; Harriet’s poor crippled lad and his paternal grandmother have dwelt with us these three years; and now thee comes bringing a whole—”
“Jar of mixed pickles!” interrupted Octave, with no intention of disrespect, but in the heedlessness which was her characteristic.
“Octave!” cried Paula; “apologize to grandmother!”
“Apologize yourself!” retorted Octave, pertly; then blushed furiously, remembering to whom she had been discourteous. “I do apologize, dear, sweet little grandma. Not for Paula’s tongue, though, but because I wouldn’t do a shabby thing to you if I could help it. But I never shall do any better; I’m born to be horrid,” she concluded with such complacent serenity that Content laughed.
“What you laughing at?” demanded Fritz, junior, stopping his noisy consumption of a third bowl of milk. “I like to know all the fun.”
“I’m afraid you would not understand this; but I was not laughing at any one,” returned Content, flushing a bit at her lack of self-control.
“But you can tell, can’t you? You’ve got a tongue.”
“Well, then, it struck me as very funny that Octave and your own small self have already decided that there is no use in trying to improve yourselves, and are so perfectly satisfied that it should be so.”
Fritzy’s puzzled little face, after this long explanation, showed that he had not comprehended it as well as he expected; but a swift, keen glance from Octave’s dark eyes intercepted one from Content, and a bond of interest was instantly formed between these two stranger cousins whose training had been so different.
Fritz slipped down from his chair, when he had at length filled himself to the utmost capacity with his Aunt Ruth’s good things, and sauntered carelessly out of the room. No one thought to forbid his exploring any part of the house which attracted his curiosity, and Aunt Ruth disdained, while Grandmother Amy forgot, Melville’s fretful request that he should not be disturbed by any family visits that night.