The little girls, who were twins and as like as two peas, were harder to win over. But by love and tenderness Connie’s mother and the girls managed it at last.
And then eyes grew drowsy, tired little heads nodded, and Connie’s mother, with a look at Mr. Danvers, who had been hovering in the background all the time, picked up one of the little girls and started for the stairs.
“I’m going to tuck them in bed,” she said, speaking softly. “We can put them in our room, John—in the big bed.”
A few minutes later the girls stood in Mrs. Danvers' room, looking down at three little flushed faces, three tousled heads that belonged to three very sound-asleep little children.
Connie’s mother tiptoed out of the room and motioned to the girls to follow, but they lingered for a minute.
“Aren’t they lovely?” asked Connie, with a catch in her voice.
“They’re beautiful,” said Laura. “Especially the little boy.”
“And they ate,” said Vi softly, “as if they had been half starved. Poor little things—I wonder who they are?”
“Girls,” said Billie gravely, “I suppose you will laugh at me when I tell you, but ever since I first saw them I have had a strange feeling——”
“Yes,” they said impatiently, as she paused.