Unsuspicious Mr.Gallilee took if for granted that his favourite daughter was employed on a writing lesson--following Maria's industrious example for once.

"Good children!" he said, looking affectionately from one to the other.

"I won't disturb you; go on." He took a chair, satisfied--comforted, even--to be in the same room with the girls.
If he had placed himself nearer to the desk, he might have seen that Zo had been thinking of Carmina to some purpose.
What could she do to make her friend and playfellow well and happy again?
There was the question which Zo asked herself, after having seen Carmina carried insensible out of the room.
Possessed of that wonderful capacity for minute observation of the elder persons about them, which is one among the many baffling mysteries presented by the minds of children, Zo had long since discovered that the member of the household, preferred to all others by Carmina, was the good brother who had gone away and left them.

In his absence, she was always talking of him--and Zo had seen her kiss his photograph before she put it back in the case.
Dwelling on these recollections, the child's slowly-working mental process arrived more easily than usual at the right conclusion.

The way to make Carmina well and happy again, was to bring Ovid back.