fed the birds, and did various odd jobs about the room and house. "My
dear," she said at last, "what a solemn girl you are! I should think
from your face that you were at least five and thirty. Don't you ever
laugh or frolic, like other girls your age? Why, my Lilly, who is
four months older than you, is a perfect child still; impulsive as a
baby, bubbling over with fun from morning till night."

"I've been shut up a good deal," said Katy, trying to defend herself;
"but I didn't know I was solemn."

"My dear, that's the very thing I complain of: you don't know it!
You are altogether ahead of your age. It's very bad for you, in my
opinion. All this housekeeping and care, for young girls like you
and Clover, is wrong and unnatural. I don't like it; indeed I don't."

"Oh! housekeeping doesn't hurt me a bit," protested Katy, trying to
smile. "We have lovely times; indeed we do, Cousin Olivia."

Cousin Olivia only pursed up her mouth, and repeated: "It's wrong, my
dear. It's unnatural. It's not the thing for you. Depend upon it,
it's not the thing."

This was unpleasant; but what was worse had Katy known it, Mrs. Page
attacked Dr. Carr upon the subject. He was quite troubled to learn
that she considered Katy grave and careworn, and unlike what girls
of her age should be. Katy caught him looking at her with a puzzled
expression.

"What is it, dear papa? Do you want anything?"