"I can't," I said.
"Well, don't think about it," was Daddy's reply. "Love her, without knowing that you love her. I believe she is a very good woman."
"I 'spect so," I said. "I don't much care for good womens."
As a rule I spoke quite correctly, but when excited I did make some lapses.
"Well, that's all," said father, suddenly putting me down on the floor. "Run up to bed now and to sleep. You will see Aunt Penelope to-morrow; you will like her very much. I have brought you all the way to England in order that you might see her."
I was a bit sleepy, and it was very late for me to be up. So I kissed Daddy two or three times and ran upstairs all alone. Anastasia was waiting for me at the head of the stairs.
"Anastasia," I shouted, "we are going to have a real jolly time. We are going to Aunt Penelope to-morrow. She is aunt because she is mother's sister; she would be aunt, too, if she was father's sister. I wonder how many people she is aunt to? Is she your aunt, Anastasia?"
"No, my dear child," said Anastasia, in quite a gentle tone.
"And isn't it fun, Anastasia?" I continued. "Daddy has brought me all the way to England just to see Aunt Penelope, and we are going back to India almost immediately—Daddy said so."
"Said what, Miss Heather?"