“Oh, you’ll learn fast enough. Nevis will never hold you. But I’ll help you out, by George! It would be some fun to turn you loose and watch you make things hum.”
“How perfectly heavenly to hear some one talking about poor little me! Tell me more about myself.”
Tay laughed indulgently. “You are a baby!”
“Don’t laugh at me. Oh—I’m not a bit like Julia. I’d have killed that husband of hers long before she shut him up. Queer how different people in the same family can be. They all seem to think that Julia’s not much changed—although she’s really quite old now. But it would have made a devil out of me.”
“I believe you!” And he added unwillingly, “How interesting you will be when you are a few years older.”
“Not if I stay on Nevis.”
“Oh, don’t let that worry you.”
She brought her face so close to his that he fancied he felt a light shock of electricity. “Swear it!” she whispered eagerly. “You look as if you could do anything you wanted to do. I haven’t felt a bit encouraged by Julia’s promises, but if you promise me —”
Tay stood up and put his hands in his pockets. “It’s a go,” he said. “Trust me to turn you loose among our squabs the first chance I get —”
“Fanny, dear, will you show Mr. and Mrs. Morison the orchards? They are waiting for you.”