Sally did not know what reply to make, so she made none.
"He never used to say anything about my—my liver," resumed Miss Patty, "when he called. He was practising then, too. It is painful to me to see such a change in a man like him. Now, in the old days, when he used to be here a great deal,—a very great deal, Sally,—he was not at all like that." And Miss Patty sighed.
Just then the maid came up to announce the Carlings.
"An', Miss Patty," she continued significantly, "Charlie's in the kitchen."
"Oh, is he? I'll come right down and get him." The maid withdrew. "The dear little boy!" said Miss Patty. "I suppose he's eating what he ought not to. I'd like to let him have anything he wants, but I know it wouldn't be good for him."
She rose rather hastily, but paused with her hand on the door. "Of course, Sally," she said with a short little laugh, "you are not to think that I had any—Oh, here are the twins, Sally."
Miss Patty fled and the Carlings entered.
"H—h—hello, Sally," they cried. "H—h—how's your l—l—leg?"
Sally laughed. "It's my foot, not my leg, and it doesn't hurt me at all, hardly."
This appeared to upset the concerted programme of the twins.