Alpha Book

"No marmalade, remember; and mother has a great mind _not_ to
come up at bedtime and lean over you. Mother has no desire to lean over
her babies to-night."
To "lean over" the children was always expected of this mother; the
direst punishment on the rather brief list was to omit this intimate
evening ceremony.
"M-mother," stammered the Master of Fox Hounds, "you _will_ lean over
us, won't you?"
"Mother hasn't decided--"
"Oh, muvver!" wailed Josie; and a howl of grief and dismay rose from
Winthrop, modified to a gurgle by the forbidden finger.
"You _will_, won't you?" begged Drina. "We've been pretty bad, but not
bad enough for that!"
"I--Oh, yes, I will. Stop that noise, Winthrop! Josie, I'm going to lean
over you--and you, too, Clemence, baby. Katie, take those dogs away
immediately; and remember about the marmalade."
Reassured, smiling through tears, the children trooped off, it being the
bathing hour; and Mrs. Gerard threw her fur stole over one shoulder and
linked her slender arm in her brother's.


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