“Hullo, child,” and shook hands with her, just like a couple of almost strangers would do. Then he introduced her to the children.
“Jane, this is John Sherman, by far the most important member of the family. John, this is Jane. And this, Jane, is Martha Mary, but we will call her Sister. These are the almost twins: Edward Lee who dips cats in whitewash, and Walter, who puts new spots on them with blue ink. This is Liza alias Elizabeth alias Butterfly. And this, if you please, is Hermit. You know he was really the one who discovered me.”
Hermit, when he heard his name, got up and yawned, then wagged his tail and smiled as politely as could be.
“Please,” said Martha Mary, when they were all introduced. “It’s my birthday and we should like you to stay and help me celebrate.”
“But Jane has—er——” Flip started to grumble.
“Jane has nothing, Young Man,” said Jane. “I know you are all on edges to show me the proofs of your book and tell me how wonderful you are, but you will have to wait. I’m going to celebrate.”
“All right,” said Flip. “Then I’ll go jump in the lake—or eat a snail or something.”
It was John who saved the day. “Last one to the stable is it and a nigger-baby,” he shouted.
Away rushed all the children, and Jane would have followed, but her skirts were too tight. So she sat on the haystack next to Flip and when Martha Mary turned around just once, she saw—but Martha Mary would not tell us what she saw.