Phoebe bit her lips because she wanted to treat the subject very
seriously. "I want you to promise me, honey, that you will be
particularly nice to Grant; PARTICULARLY nice. He's so alone,
and he's very proud and sensitive, because he feels his
loneliness. No one understands him as I do--"

"I hate him!" gritted Evadna, in an emphatic whisper which her
Aunt Phoebe thought it wise not to seem to hear.

Phoebe settled herself comfortably for a long talk. The murmur
of her voice as she explained and comforted and advised came
soothingly from the room, with now and then an interruption while
she waited for a tardy answer to some question. Finally she rose
and stood in the doorway, looking back at a huddled figure on the
bed.

"Now dry your eyes and be a good girl, and remember what you've
promised," she admonished kindly. "Aunt Phoebe didn't mean to
scold you, honey; she only wants you to feel that you belong
here, and she wants you to like her boys and have them like you.
They've always wanted a sister to pet; and Aunt Phoebe is hoping
you'll not disappoint her. You'll try; won't you, Vadnie?"

"Y--yes," murmured Vadnie meekly from the pillow. "I know you
will." Phoebe looked at her for a moment longer rather
wistfully, and turned away. "I do wish she had some spunk," she
muttered complainingly, not thinking that Evadna might hear her.
"She don't take after the Ramseys none--there wasn't anything
mushy about them that I ever heard of."