“I shall be very glad to know your little daughter,” she said, speaking in the prim foreign way her father had taught her, “but I think she must be younger than I am. I have seen her and the little boy, too. I shall be twelve years old next August.”
Mr. and Mrs. Barlow looked rather amused, but they shook hands with Gretel very kindly, and Mr. Barlow—who was a stout, pleasant-faced gentleman—said she was quite correct, and that the twins were only just ten.
“Are they really twins?” inquired Gretel, with much interest. “Higgins and I thought they might be, but we weren’t sure. I think I see them out on the end of the pier now.”
“Yes,” answered Mr. Barlow, following Gretel’s glance, “they certainly are, and a little too near the end, I am afraid.” And he started promptly in pursuit of his small son and daughter. But Mrs. Barlow—a placid, sweet-faced little lady—smiled serenely, and did not seem in the least anxious.
“Mr. Barlow is always worrying about the children,” she said. “I tell him he is very foolish; Jerry and Geraldine are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. Besides, children must be taught to learn by experience. We must not put the thought of fear into their little minds. My Jerry is the most fearless child I have ever known.”
Mr. Douane looked a little puzzled, as if he found it rather hard to understand Mrs. Barlow’s point of view, but at that moment Mr. Barlow returned, accompanied by Jerry and Geraldine.
“Children,” began Mrs. Barlow in her sweet, rather drawling voice, “such a very pleasant thing has happened. We have met an old friend, Mr. Douane, and his little sister is going to be a dear little playmate for you. Isn’t that delightful news?”
Mrs. Barlow evidently expected the children to be quite overwhelmed with joy, but to tell the truth, neither Jerry nor Geraldine appeared very much impressed. They both regarded Gretel with a prolonged stare, but neither spoke, and when Gretel held out her hand, Jerry instantly put both hands in his pockets, and Geraldine put hers behind her back.
“Shake hands, children,” admonished their father; “don’t you see the little girl is waiting to shake hands with you?”
“Oh, don’t force them, dear,” Mrs. Barlow interposed gently. “Children always get on better together when left to themselves. We are going to the fort for guard mount, Mr. Douane, and shall be very glad to have your little sister join us. Please let her come.”