"Mother, come here! Come quickly!" as though the look couldn't possibly last through Mrs. Leighton's leisurely approach.
"What is it, dear?" asked Mrs. Leighton.
"Why, the house!" said Natalie. "Look at it. It's horrified at something. I think it must be the mess the roses have made. Can't you see what it's saying? It's saying, 'Well, I never!'"
Mrs. Leighton laughed.
"It does look sort of funny," she said.
Just then old mammy put her gray head out of the door to hear what the talk was about. She wore glasses, as becoming to her age, but peered over them when she wanted to see anything.
"What youans larffin' abeout?" she demanded.
"We're laughing at the house," cried Natalie. "It's got its mouth open and the funniest look on its face. Come and see."
"Mo' nonsense," grunted mammy and slammed the door.
Then it was that the house seemed to withdraw suddenly into the primness of virginal white paint.