Suddenly Miss Sallie and Mr. Latham walked in unannounced.
“Well, this is a cosy party!” declared Mr. Latham, smiling.
Bab dropped her magazine, Ruth sat up straight in her chair, while Mollie and Grace nearly rolled off their sofa.
Their noise wakened Eunice, who sat up in bed with her cheeks flushed. Her black hair was massed about her face. She wore a red dressing gown that Ruth had bought for her the night before. She was so pretty that Mr. Latham was moved by her appearance.
But Eunice was frightened when she saw Mr. Latham—he was the man who had stared at her so strangely—he was the man who meant to steal her, so, at least, Reginald Latham had told Eunice. The little girl began to cry softly.
Mollie started up to go to Eunice, but she stopped at a frown from Miss Sallie. Mr. Latham was approaching Eunice.
“I am not going to hurt you, Eunice,” he declared. “Do I look like the bogie man, who lives in the woods and comes to steal away naughty children?”
Eunice shook her head. “There are no bogie men in the woods. Wood fairies are all good.”
“Well, I am no kind of fairy, Eunice. I am an uncle. Do you know what an uncle is?” Mr. Latham inquired.
Eunice shook her head again.