Rosemary

ck silk, and kissed Dr. Hugh affectionately.

s," she explained, smiling. "They're simply delicious

and even Sarah's "thank you, Aunt Trudy" had an unusual depth of warmth

g knife as Shirley lifted th

rous to remember you so bountifully, but I can not let you make yourselves sick. I'll keep t

emary's voice w

said Shirley with c

she thrust her box under

ugh, and won't hurt them," Mi

n in sufficient amount, will upset the digestion of an ostrich," said Doctor

ie as she passed the creamed potatoes. "Sarah will be eating c

eed she was, and she frequently took part in the table c

med upon the little circle, Dr. Hugh across from her, Rosemary at his right, Shirley next to her and on the other side of the round table, Sarah the silent. Sarah was certainly a child of few words and she was never tr

s saying as Winnie brought in the salad, "your mother wrote me, before she

or Maine this afternoon. We both thought it better for many reasons to make no change in the office-I'll take hi

pushing back her plate and

her aunt asked in surprise.

arch pudding," s

epted the explanation, but

ck here-dinner

d and faced

lared, scowling. "Winnie knows I do

seemed to draw the rebellious Sarah back to her chair. "If you don't care for the

the pudding when it came, without further discussion. But the moment

e it to me," she insisted

lared. "And one for Shirley-take the kind you want, sweetheart,

semary passed her box to her aunt and Winnie and then chose two of the enormous candies for herself. "All child

made no di

aten your candy?"

box," said Sarah with em

binet in the office. You may have two apiece after dinner till they are gone. They'll last twice as long that wa

turned. Aunt Trudy was reading under the living-room lamp-for the nights were still a little too cool

to bed?" the doctor asked

ked up, a li

" she answered, "but since she was sick, Shirley got in the habit of

o you go?" inqui

ed and began t

t is-later. Honestly, Hugh, I don't see why I should go to b

e arm of her chair, "but if Mother didn't object, we'll still say nine. You a

bitter frankness. "I wanted to read my rabbit book, but Shirley teased and I playe

?" said D

luctantly. "She used to argue with Mother nearly every night. No one eve

bed every night at half-past seven, aren't you, dear? Sarah at eight and Rosemary at nine-and that's a

to go to bed,"

semary, putting down her knitting. "I'll te

ory," said Shirl

ook and surveyed her youn

eart?" she asked, her voice tende

de an impatie

dark; we were not brought up that way. Every one of us has been trained to go up to bed alone at the r

erself flat on the floor and cried with anger. She was sleepy and tired and she resented this summary curtailme

gh, scooping his small sister up from the floor and carrying her tow

lf as he marched upstairs with the screaming Shirley. "I seem

irley and Sarah quiet and asleep, he found his sis

said Aunt Trudy brightly. "I'm tired from the

m, and Rosemary folded up her work as the

ly. "She hardly ever acts that way. And Sarah doesn

declared her brother humorously. "You're a sweet older sister, R

ndo of pure pleasure. "But I'm not a good example-you won't

gly, kissing her vivid little face. "Go to bed, chi

till burning in the office and Wi

wich, Hughie," she said, using the old pe

," he said, smiling at her. "I've been doing a lit

him, wisdom and

eding it all, but you'll work it out. Shirley is spoiled and we're all to blame-it wasn't all done in these two weeks, either; your mother gave in a little at a time for she was tired and her illness has been long coming. 'Tis nothing to set right a little wrong wh

ttle, but his face enco

er that blazes, a quick pride that bleeds at a word and a passion for loving that sometimes frightens me. The sick and the helpless and the young-Rosemary would mother 'em all. And she's hurt

anxious eyes, dim with the l

mised. "And you'll help me. Thank