'Oh no,' was the answer, 'you are very light. Besides, darling, it is not the first time that'—— Then she checked herself, and Lotty undertook to finish the sentence.
'Not the first time you've nursed a little girl, you were going to say.'
'Ye-es,' assented the other.
Lotty snuggled closer to her.
'I wish you were my mother. But I never had a mother, never, never, never. May I call you mammy?'
Lotty had not seen that tear. This strange child had her sentimental moments, and had come through grief enough, goodness knows; but somehow mirth was never far away from sorrow.
'So now,' she cried, 'I have a ma, and Norlans has a grandma.'
'Lotty, think now,' said Mrs Skipper, 'were you always, always a little gipsy lass? Think back child.'
The girl sat up more, to look the better at the kindly face and eyes.