Nina Coombs Pykare Read Free Page A

act.”
    Cassandra nodded. “I see that. I’ll listen. I want to be a lady, you see.”
    Jennifer nodded. “I see. Then first remember, ladies say, ‘I won’t play any more tricks.’“
    “I’ll remember. And please, Miss, would it be unladylike to call me Cassie?”
    The dark eyes pleaded for understanding and Jennifer saw that the child was intensely lonely. “No, Cassie, that won’t be unladylike at all. Friends often have nicknames for each other.”
    The child’s face actually glowed, thought Jennifer, and then she was startled by a tug at her sleeve. “I want to be a lady, too,” the child pleaded. “Can I?”
    “Of course, Camilla. Cassie and I will help you. Won’t we?”
    Jennifer knew from Cassie’s fervent nod that she had already reached one heart.
    “I want a - a nick - I wants one, too,” demanded the little one.
    “You got to say, ‘I want,” said Cassie in a patient tone so like her own that Jennifer felt a lump forming in her throat.
    “Cassie is right. Only, Cassie, you mean, ‘You must say - I want.”
    Cassie nodded and repeated the words.
    The little one’s eyes grew round, whether at her sister’s patience or at the lesson in grammar, Jennifer could not say. “I want one - of them,” she insisted.
    “Well,” said Jennifer. “That is only fair. Cassie has already decided on hers. Have you a nickname in mind?”
    The dark curls flew as Camilla shook her head.
    Jennifer’s brows drew together. “Well, Cassie, Mortimer, can we come up with a nickname for Camilla?”
    Mortimer ignored her completely, but Cassie appeared to be considering. “We could call you Milly.”
    The dark head shook violently.
    “Or Cammie.”
    The child’s dark eyes turned to Jennifer. “I likes - like that. Is it all right? For a lady?”
    “Indeed it is.” Again Jennifer felt that lump in her throat. These children were not horrid monsters at all, just two lonely little girls shunted off on the servants, unloved and unwanted by their mother.
    She turned her attention to the boy. He might be a harder case. “Mortimer, would you like to have a nickname?”
    The blond head swung around, two blue eyes, suspiciously bright, glared at her. “I ain’t no girl. I don’t need no silly nick-name.”
    Jennifer’s voice kept its even tone. “Very well, Mortimer. We will respect your wishes. But I would like to remind you that a gentleman speaks proper English and, as I’m quite sure you know, says, ‘I am not a girl. I don’t need any silly nickname.”
      Mortimer received this information with a defiant shrug which Jennifer chose to ignore. She turned to the girls. “I should very much like to have you show me around the grounds. Can we take Peter-kins with us?”
    “Yes, Miss. And Miss, I won’t shut him up again. He must have been awful scared in there in the dark.”
    “I’m sure he was, Cassie, but he will be all right if we treat him kindly. Animals should always be treated kindly as they have no voices with which to protest when they are hurt.”
    Cammie’s dark head nodded in agree-ment. As Jennifer rose, the monkey still clinging to her, Cammie said, “I won’t hurt Peterkins ever.”
    “I’m very glad to hear that,” said Jenni-fer. As they reached the doorway she felt a small hand creep into each of hers. She gave them each a squeeze and smiled reassuringly at the girls. Then she turned to the boy. His mouth was still set in a rebellious frown, but he was obviously not going to let them go off without him.
    “I should appreciate it greatly, Mortimer, if you would pull the door shut behind us.”
    There was no answer, but as she contin-ued serenely down the hall, a small girl on either side, there came the satisfying sound - a little loud perhaps, but still satisfying - of a closing door and the patter of small feet hurrying to catch up. “I’ll show her the stables,” announced Mortimer defiantly.
    And so Jennifer met her charges and began her new life. Perhaps not too