When Kitty finished speaking Nan suddenly flung both her arms very tightly round her neck.
“Why, you are trembling all over, Nan; what does it mean?”
“It means this,” said Nan—“this.”
“But what? You are not saying anything; you are only just shivering and clinging to me. What is the matter? Of course, Nora and I notice how terribly changed you are and how unhappy you look.”
“Never mind about that; please answer me one question.”
“Yes; what is it?”
“Do you love me?”
“Of course I love you. We all do—I mean Nora and mother and I; we love you dearly—dearly.”
“Better than the animals?”
“Oh, well! I am not sure, but in a different way, anyhow.”