“But, father, most children are happy.”
“And you are not? Good gracious me! what more do you want?”
“I don’t know, father; but it seems to me that I want something.”
“Well, look here, you want girls about you, do you?”
“Yes, some girls.”
“And you think Rita and Agnes Swan, the daughters of our local doctor, quite delightful companions?”
I made no answer.
“Just wait for me a minute, Dumps, and I’ll get dressed and come down and inspect them.”
“Oh, but you won’t frighten them?”
“Frighten them? Well, if they’re that sort they won’t be much good to you. But wait outside the door, and I’ll come down. To think that Von Marlo made the toast! And how do you say he prepared the egg?”