“No; only the daughter of a very great friend.”
“Is she, Aunt Jessie, a—rich little girl?”
“Rich in friends, I hope, Augusta; but rich, poor darling, in nothing else. Her mother did not leave any money behind her. But it is a great pleasure to have Nan, and I hope she will live here always.”
“Then you have adopted her.”
“Practically; only the matter cannot be fully arranged for a time.”
“Why? What do you mean?”
“There are some other people—friends of her father’s—who have also the right to adopt Nan.”
“What a curious, romantic story! People do not as a rule want to adopt little penniless girls.”
“I want to adopt her; and I do not quite like that tone in your voice, Augusta. Nan is not under the slightest obligation to me, and I wish you to understand that. Her mother once on a most important occasion in my life did me a kindness which I can never, never forget, and for her sake nothing that I could do for her child would be too much.”
“And you will not tell me what it is?”