the slightest encouragement, and would gladly have breakfasted in
a wrapper, or in her petticoats, or while about the woods with her
dogs, whereas nobody could know Cherry and not know that every
weakness of which the feminine heart is capable, for frills and
toilet waters, creams and laces, was dormant under the childish
negligence.

"I heard you all laughing, under the window and it--woke--me--up!"
Cherry said dreamily.

"It seems to me," Anne, who had been eying her uneasily, said
lightly, "that someone I know is getting pretty old to come
downstairs in that rig when strangers are here!"

"It seems to me this is just as decent as lots of things--bathing
suits, for instance!" Cherry returned instantly, gathering the
robe about her, and giving Anne a resentful glance over her blue
cup.

"Peter, are you a stranger?" Alix said. "If Peter's a stranger,"
she added animatedly, "what is an intimate friend? Peter walks
through this house at all hours; you can't wash your hair or do a
little ironing without having Peter under your feet; he borrows
money from me; he bullies Hong about wasting butter--"

"Also you borrow money from me, my child, don't forget that,"
Peter interrupted serenely, peeling an apple. "I don't come to see
YOU, Alix."

"I have a rope somewhere--" the doctor ruminated. "Where did I put