The nurse had had the care of Evelyn’s baby while the dinner was in progress, but now she brought it in and laid it in the mother’s lap while she should go and take her meal. Several of the cousins gathered about to look at the little one, and spoke admiringly of her appearance.
“She is a little beauty,” said more than one.
Then a weak little voice seemed to come from her lips:
“Don’t make me vain.”
“Oh, no, darling. You are too young for that,” laughed Grandma Elsie, “as well as too young to talk so wisely and well.”
“Yes, ma’am; but my papa helps me,” murmured the weak little voice, and everybody looked at Max and laughed.
“What a nice little truth-speaker you are, little niece,” said Lucilla, leaning over the babe and softly touching its cheek.
“I want to be that always, auntie,” replied the same little voice which had spoken before.
“Oh, what a good little thing you are,” laughed Ned. “I’m glad to be your uncle.”