“Oh, you darling, you darling! You sweet! You sweet! There never was any one like you, mothery, never, never, never! Do let me press my cheek against yours. Oh, you sweet! You pet!”
Mrs Aldworth gave one glance of loving triumph at Marcia. Was she not right? Did not her children adore her? Marcia must see it now for herself.
Marcia sat down on a chair and breathed a sigh of relief. Little Nesta was right enough. Little Nesta was better in her conduct than either of her sisters.
“You will come in, of course, and say good-night to me, darling,” said Mrs Aldworth when Nurse Davenant made her appearance with the invalid’s tea most temptingly prepared.
“Oh yes, if we may.”
“You may all come in and out as much as you please, and as often as mother wants you,” said Marcia.
“There is no restraint; no limit of time. You do just as you like.”
“Then I expect my own dear sweet pet mothery will be getting a little tired of me,” was Nesta’s response, “for I’ll be wanting to be always and always with her, see if I don’t!” and Nesta kissed her mother’s hand again rapturously.
“Oh, what tempting toast,” she said, “and how nice that tea looks.”
Mrs Aldworth smiled.