The rosy lips parted in a smile, and before the startled woman could regain her composure, the child spoke. "So this is Catarrhar, is it?"
"My name is Mrs. Wood," answered the woman, dumbfounded by her salutation.
"But your first name?" persisted the brown-eyed sprite.
"What does it matter?" The woman's voice was cold and crisp.
"Aren't you Dr. Dick's sister?"
"Dr. Dickson Shumway is my brother, if that is what you mean."
"I thought so. Well, he's got better manners than you have."
The woman gasped. Who in the world was this frank, friendly creature? No one had ever dared to speak like that to her before. Flushed with anger, she turned to seek another retreat, but Peace forestalled her. "Your father said you weren't as homely as he is, and that's so. You'd be real pretty if you just looked a little more human."
"Human!" The exclamation burst from her involuntarily, as the woman sank limply into the nearest chair and stared in utter surprise at her tormentor.