“Oh I am glad to be near you,” said little Elisabeth.
Peggy bent down at once and kissed the sweet little baby face. “And I’m glad to be near you, darling,” she said. Her soft, cooing voice, the delicious, fascinating brogue, which was soft as her native island, smote upon the fanciful ears of little Elisabeth. She clung to Peggy as though she could not let her go. The Imp looked across Peggy, her black eyes fixing themselves on little Elisabeth’s face. The child crouched a little behind Peggy, as though to avoid the said eyes; but The Imp insisted on continuing her gaze, and after a minute or two Elisabeth, to her surprise, found herself smiling.
“Now, that’s right,” said The Imp. She turned and looked at Peggy. “Do you know?” she said.
“What am I to know widout ye tellin’ me?” said Peggy.
“Do you know that I could hardly sleep the whole of last night?”
“Whyiver was that?” said Peggy. “What ’u’d keep ye awake?”
“I was thinking of you.”
“Perhaps it’s yer shoulders were achin’ a bit; I know I caught them rather rough.”
“Oh it wasn’t that; besides, they didn’t ache, you aren’t strong enough to make them really ache. No, I was thinking how horribly rude I was to you. I want to beg your pardon. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Ah wisha! ’tain’t worth beggin’ pardon about.”