'Because I never had one.'
'Never had one?' she repeated, laughing.
'No; I am the only little girl that never had.'
'You don't remember him then?' said Dalton, recalling the remarks of Jerry.
'How can one remember what one never, never had?' said little Netty, sententiously.
'Go to your nurse, Netty,' said her mamma, 'I hear her calling for you.'
So Netty was summarily dismissed, and not a moment too soon, as both her listeners thought, and an awkward pause was about to ensue, when Mrs. Trelawney said, suddenly,
'Your friend Goring seems desperately smitten with my sweet little friend Alison Cheyne.'
'If so, I wish him all success,' replied Dalton. 'Goring is the king of good fellows, and the girl is quite beautiful.'
'The French have a curious saying that it is not necessary to be beautiful in order to be a beauty; but Alison Cheyne is indeed lovely, and has, in a high degree, a lady-like dignity about her; and, with it, is so charmingly simple and piquante. I hope Goring is rich; her father, I am pretty sure, looks forward to a wealthy alliance for her.'