"Father doesn't like us to have help of any kind." There were deep shadows about the eyes she raised to Avery's face, but they smiled quite bravely, with all unconscious wistfulness.
Avery laid a tender hand upon the brown head and drew it to rest against her.

"Poor little thing!" she said compassionately.
"But I'm not little really, you know," said Jeanie, closing her eyes for a few stolen moments.

"I'm thirteen in March.

And they're all younger than me except Ronnie and Julian." Avery bent with a swift, maternal movement and kissed the blue-veined forehead.

Jeanie opened her eyes in slight surprise.