"You must meet Wilhelmina one of these days. She is a great girl—climbs trees, rides horseback like a little Indian, and is as much a boy as any one of her brothers. The next time I go to Sunnymead, I shall take you with me."
"Father and Mother and Berta and Beth must come, too, Uncle."
"That is understood, pet."
"Will you please take this baby—I mean Beth, for a few minutes?"
"Certainly, dear. Your poor little arms must be quite tired."
"Oh, no, Uncle! Why, I am sure that I could hold both babies all day long without being tired. I shall be back in just a little minute," and Mary slipped away, leaving the two men to wonder where she had gone.
Back to the playroom she flew, caught up her two prettiest dolls, and was hurrying from the room when she paused.
"I'm afraid they might hurt themselves with these. I had better take soft things."
She walked about among her toys, choosing first one, then another, until her father began to think that she was not coming back. When at last she entered the sitting-room, he and the Doctor had quite a time to keep from laughing aloud at sight of her with her pet white kitten, a rubber doll in a gay worsted suit, a big, brightly-colored rubber ball, and a Teddy bear almost as large as herself clasped in her arms.
"I was afraid they might think we don't want them if there is nothing for them to play with when they wake," she explained.