Come and see to him;" and the lively Thomas returned to his sport with unabated relish.
At his call, the boy reading on the stairs looked up with a pair of big brown eyes, and after an instant's pause, as if a little shy, he put the book under his arm, and came soberly down to greet the new-comer, who found something very attractive in the pleasant face of this slender, mild-eyed boy.
"Have you seen Aunt Jo ?" he asked, as if that was some sort of important ceremony.
"I haven't seen anybody yet but you boys; I'm waiting," answered Nat.
"Did Uncle Laurie send you ?" proceeded Demi, politely, but gravely.
"Mr.Laurence did." "He is Uncle Laurie; and he always sends nice boys." Nat looked gratified at the remark, and smiled, in a way that made his thin face very pleasant.

He did not know what to say next, so the two stood staring at one another in friendly silence, till the little girl came up with her doll in her arms.

She was very like Demi, only not so tall, and had a rounder, rosier face, and blue eyes.
"This is my sister, Daisy," announced Demi, as if presenting a rare and precious creature.
The children nodded to one another; and the little girl's face dimpled with pleasure, as she said affably: "I hope you'll stay.

We have such good times here; don't we, Demi ?" "Of course, we do: that's what Aunt Jo has Plumfield for." "It seems a very nice place indeed," observed Nat, feeling that he must respond to these amiable young persons.
"It's the nicest place in the world, isn't it, Demi ?" said Daisy, who evidently regarded her brother as authority on all subjects.
"No, I think Greenland, where the icebergs and seals are, is more interesting.

But I'm fond of Plumfield, and it is a very nice place to be in," returned Demi, who was interested just now in a book on Greenland.