“Better’n me?” said Lucy, looking for her handkerchief.
The good clergyman tried to explain to his children that there are many kinds of love in the world, but all are beautiful and sweet. Then he talked of Christmas, and of God’s sending his blessed Son to us upon that day, a little child.
“God’s love is best of all,” said Mr. Dunlee. “Did you ever fancy for a moment, little ones, what we should do without our Father’s love?”
“Die, I think,” replied Jimmy, shivering and drawing nearer to his little sister. “We should all cuddle up together and die in a heap.”
But Lucy could talk of nothing but the wedding.
“Auntie never telled me a thing. Did she mally Mr. Sanford ’cause she loved him?”
“To be sure,” said Mr. Dunlee.
Lucy drew a quick breath.
“Well, I love my brother better’n that; I love him ’way up to the moon. Won’t you mally me and my brother?”