"This is Doctor Danby," introduced her parent, lifting the child and placing her on the guest's capacious knee, though still supporting the tiny waist with an assuring hand.
He and the juvenile scanned each other carefully. The grey eyes, the bronze curls, and rosy mouth—they were the exact presentments of her mother. He stooped and kissed them one by one.
Before an outsider he would have been for ever compromised, but fond mammas can see nothing extraordinary in any affectionate demonstration towards their offspring!
"Who am I, Phœbe?" asked he, dwelling tenderly on the name shared alike by parent and child.
"Ow is Dot Dandy," was the lisped reply. "Mammy, is Dot Dandy nice?"
Mrs Cameron hurriedly lifted the loquacious imp from its impromptu perch. Again "Dot" noticed a delicious flush on the transparent cheek, and his heart leaped within him.
"Pooh!" sneered the inward mentor again, "the lassie is substantial—too substantial for any woman to carry without colouring!"
"Mammy, is Dot Dandy nice?" clamoured Phœbe minor again.
Her mother took the precaution of ringing for the nurse before replying.
"Yes, darling. Very nice."