Until such time, then, as they must be told, Doris renewed her efforts in building well the small, healthy minds and bodies.

“When they marry”—­this brought a smile—­“when they marry!  Of course, then, they must know.”  With that conclusion reached, anxiety was once more lulled to rest.

Gradually the old peaceful days merged into new peaceful days.  Doris entered, little by little, into her social duties so long neglected; the children romped and lived joyously in the old house—­“just children”—­until suddenly a small but significant thing occurred when they were nine years of age that startled Doris into a line of thought that brought about a radical change in all their lives.

She was sitting in the library one stormy day, reading.  The tall back of the chair hid her from view, the fire and the book were soothing, and the excuse—­that the storm gave her the right to do what she wanted to do, rather than what she, otherwise, might feel she should do—­added to her enjoyment.

From above she heard the voices of the children and Mary’s quiet intervention now and again.

Then Joan laughed, and the sound struck Doris as if she had never heard it before.  What a peculiar laugh it was—­for a child!  Silver clear, musical, but with a note of defiance, recklessness, and yes, almost abandon.

Joan was teasing Nancy about her dolls—­Joan detested dolls, she declared that it was their stupid stare that made her dislike them.  She only wanted live things:  dogs and cats, not even birds—­she was sorry for birds.  Nancy’s dolls were to her “children,” and she was pleading now for an especial favourite and Joan was praying—­rather mockingly—­that God would let it get smashed because of “the proud nose.”

“But God makes children’s noses!” Nancy was urging.

“Well!  He don’t make dolls,” Joan insisted, and proceeded with her petition until Nancy’s wails brought Mary upon the scene.

Doris listened.  She could not hear what Mary said, but presently peace reigned above-stairs and the pelting storm and the book resumed their power.

It might have been a half hour later when she heard soft, stealthy footsteps in the hall.  She sat quite still, believing that one of the children was hiding and that the other would be on the trail immediately.  The small intruder passed through the library and went into the sunken room.

Doris, herself unseen, looked from behind her shelter and saw that it was Joan, and before she could call to her she was held silent by what the child proceeded to do.

Deftly, quickly she disrobed and stood in her pretty, childish nakedness in the warm room.

For a moment she poised and listened, then she stepped over the rim of the fountain, took the exact attitude of one of the figures, and with rapt, upturned face became rigid.

It was wonderfully lovely, but decidedly startling.  Still Doris waited.