Lucy tossed up her ball; and Lucy’s father opened his newspaper. He had not been reading for more than ten minutes, when he felt a familiar little hand laid on his knee.
“Tired of playing?” he inquired—with his eyes still on the newspaper.
“I’m frightened, papa.”
He looked up directly. The child’s pale face startled him. He took her on his knee and kissed her.
“You oughtn’t to be frightened, Lucy, when I am with you,” he said, gently. “What is it?” He looked out of the alcove as he spoke, and saw a little dog among the trees. “Is it the dog?” he asked.
Lucy answered:
“It’s not the dog—it’s the lady.”
The lady was not visible from the alcove.
“Has she said anything to you?” Mr. Rayburn inquired.
“No.”