"I forgot you," he said. "How could I remember
you? I intended to send you a governess
or a nurse, or some one of that sort, but I forgot."

"Please," began Mary. "Please --" and
then the lump in her throat choked her.

"What do you want to say?" he inquired.

"I am -- I am too big for a nurse," said Mary.
"And please -- please don't make me have a governess
yet."

He rubbed his forehead again and stared at her.

"That was what the Sowerby woman said," he
muttered absent-mindedly.

Then Mary gathered a scrap of courage.

"Is she -- is she Martha's mother?" she stammered.

"Yes, I think so," he replied.

"She knows about children," said Mary.
"She has twelve. She knows."

He seemed to rouse himself.

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to play out of doors," Mary answered,
hoping that her voice did not tremble. "I never
liked it in India. It makes me hungry here, and
I am getting fatter."

He was watching her.

"Mrs. Sowerby said it would do you good.
Perhaps it will," he said. "She thought you had

[[146]]

p145 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p146w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p147

v?