“I’ll tell if you’ll tell,” said Josie. “There! that’s fair.”
“And I’ll tell if you’ll tell,” exclaimed Nina.
Josephine walked softly up and down.
“Why shouldn’t we three have secrets all to our three selves?” she said then.
“Oh, if I thought it wouldn’t go to anybody else, of course I shouldn’t mind,” said Fanchon.
“Why should it go to anybody else? We just want you to know—it is so beautiful—so very beautiful!” said Nina. “We want you to know because you are our flesh and blood, but it’s only fair you should give us something in exchange.”
“Then I will—I will show it to you. I’ll lock the door first. It is—it is—too beautiful—you’ll envy me all the days of your lives, both of you. But you must never breathe it—you must go on your knees and solemnly declare that you won’t let it out.”
“All right,” said Nina, her little eyes dancing. “And you will go on your knees and promise that you won’t let out what we have got to say to you.”
“Silly children,” said Fanchon. “You can’t have much of a secret.”
“But we have—we have, we certainly have!” said Josie.