"Or from Philip," sighed Laura, with a wistful
look.
Whereupon Nan persuaded herself that her
strong inclination to sit down was owing to want
of exercise, and the heaviness of her eyelids a freak
of imagination; so, speedily smoothing her ruffled
plumage, she ran down to tell her father of the new
arrangement.
"Go, my dear, by alll means. I shall be writing;
and you will be lonely if you stay. But I
must see my girls; for I caught glimpses of certain
surprising phantoms flitting by the door."
Nan led the way, and the two pyramids revolved
before him with the rapidity of lay-figures,
much to the good man's edification: for with his
fatherly pleasure there was mingled much mild
wonderment at the amplitude of array.
"Yes, I see my geese are really swans, though
there is such a cloud between us that I feel a long
way off, and hardly know them. But this little
daughter is always available, always my 'cricket
on the hearth.'
As he spoke, her father drew Nan closer, kissed
her tranquil face, and smiled content.
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