"All? How many?"
"Twelve," answered Ladybird, with a little moue of actual disgust.
Then the astonishment of the other girl's face moved her to mocking laughter.
"You darling girl! how surprised you look! But I don't blame you. It was very silly for them all to jump in after me! I shall never forget when I lay on the bank after I was rescued, how funny they all looked in their wet clothes, as they crowded around me!" and she laughed ungratefully.
"But—twelve lovers!—I never heard of a girl having so many!" and the younger girl's eyes dilated with wonder.
"Did you never have a lover, Precious?"
"No—I am too young—only sixteen," and Precious blushed at the very thought of a lover.
"I am only seventeen, and I have a dozen. I thought I had thirteen, but when I tested them there were but twelve," cried Ladybird, tossing her dainty head with decided pique.
"Did—my—brother—jump in the water after you?" cried Precious quickly.