The child repeated that she wanted her mother still, as with a sort of mechanical regularity of grief, but she fastened her eyes on him.
“Because I am going to send you a big box of them to-morrow,” said Robert.
Amabel turned to Ellen. “Does he mean it?” she asked.
“I guess so,” replied Ellen, laughing.
Amabel, looking from one to the other, also began to laugh unwillingly.
Then the sitting-room door opened, and Fanny called sharply and imperatively, “Amabel, Amabel; come!”
Amabel clung more tightly to Ellen, who began to gently loosen her arms.
“Amabel Tenny, come this minute. It is your bed-time,” said Fanny.
“I guess you had better go, darling,” whispered Ellen.
“I don't want to go to bed till you do, Ellen,” whispered the child.