"
"You're such a blessing, Phyllis," he answered irrelevantly. "Before
the children came I used to wonder a little whether they wouldn't
get in the way of my enjoyment of your society; but you didn't die
and turn into a mother one bit. You've just added it on, like a
sensible girl."
"Well, of course I'm attached to the babies," said Phyllis, who
would have died cheerfully for either of them, "but you'd naturally
come first. And they're much happier than if I were one of those
professional mothers who can't discuss anything but croup.... Allan,
it's time we began putting up triumphal arches. Here they are."
Allan began to whistle "Here Comes the Bride" softly and profanely
under his breath, as Joy and John Hewitt neared them, but Phyllis
managed to stop him before he was audible.
"She _is_ a darling, isn't she?" Phyllis whispered, as she
stood on the steps with one hand on Allan's arm. "Look at her,
Allan--she looks like a strong little Rossetti angel! Oh, I'm so
glad it's happened!"
She ran impulsively down the steps to greet them, her hands
outstretched.
"I _am_ so glad!" she said sincerely. "I don't believe anything
nicer could have happened, even if we _weren't_ notified!" She
put one arm around Joy, giving the unoccupied other hand to John
Hewitt. "And I think it's specially nice of you to stay with me
instead of with Mrs. Hewitt, my dear."
Joy looked up at Hewitt appealingly. She was already beginning to
feel that he was to be depended on to see her through things.
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