But I haven't any, dear, and I'll tell you every one of them, and, rather than see a tear in your dear eyes, I would tell John Lenox that I never wanted to see him again; and I don't know what you have been thinking, but I haven't thought so at all" (which last assertion made even Mrs.
Carling laugh), "and I know that I have been teasing and horrid, and if you won't put me in the closet I will be good and answer every question like a nice little girl." Whereupon she gave her sister a kiss and resumed her seat with an air of abject penitence which lasted for a minute.

Then she laughed again, though there was a watery gleam in her own eyes.

Mrs.Carling gave her a look of great love and admiration.
"I ought not to have brought up the subject," she said, "knowing as I do how you feel about such discussions, but I love you so much that sometimes I can't help--" "Alice," exclaimed the girl, "please have the kindness to call me a selfish P--I--G.

It will relieve my feelings." "But I do not think you are," said Mrs.Carling literally.
"But I am at times," declared Mary, "and you deserve not only to have, but to be shown, all the love and confidence that I can give you.

It's only this, that sometimes your solicitude makes you imagine things that do not exist, and you think I am withholding my confidence; and then, again, I am enough like other people that I don't always know exactly what I do think.