“Because I would rather stay here,” answered Octave, quietly.
“You needn’t make a martyr of yourself!”
“Nor you a bear of yourself!”
“I would rather you went. I don’t mind being left alone. I’m used to it.”
“That’s a—a fib; two fibs.”
“You told one, too.”
“I didn’t, I told the truth; I want to stay.”
“Then when he comes in, if he should come in, he—”
“Why should you mind seeing him now, since you have seen him once since—hush! he is coming in now; so is Aunt Ruth; so is grandmother; so—”
“Well, my precious lambs! So I have found you together,” said the sweet voice of Amy Kinsolving. “They have all told me what thee has done for Melville, little Octave. I knew thee had a good heart, dear!”