"
"Mother, who takes care of _you?_" he questioned.
"A very sensible girl named Susan," she answered.
The boy went a step closer.
"Mother, have you changed about anything besides sickness?" he asked
eagerly.
"Yes Malcolm," said his mother. "I've changed about every single thing in
all this world that I ever said, or did, or loved, when you knew me."
"You have?" he cried in amazement. "Would you wear that dress and come to
the woods with us now, and do some of the things we like?"
"I'd rather come here with you, and sing these bird notes than anything
else I ever did," she answered.
Malcolm advanced another long stride.
"Mother, is Susan a pounding, beating person like Lucette?" he asked
anxiously.
"No," she said softly. "Susan likes children. When she's not busy for me,
she goes into the music room and plays games, and sings songs to little
sick people."
"Because you know," said Malcolm, "James and I talk it over when we are
alone, we never let father hear because he loved Elizabeth so, and he's so
fine--mother you were _mistaken_ about father not being a gentleman, not
even Mr.
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