“It was when they brought me to see Olwen at the ‘Home,’ ” the girl continued, “that I made Father have her at our house, for Nanny⁠ ⁠… she was my nurse then⁠ ⁠… and me to take care of! I knew she was at the ‘Home,’⁠ ⁠… oh, Wolf, she was such a sweet little thing!⁠ ⁠… for I heard them talking about her. And I made Father take me to see her, and we were friends in a second.”

“So it was you that persuaded Mr. Smith to take her into his house?” said Wolf. “And you were only a child yourself.”

Mattie gave a quaint little chuckle. “I was a pretty obstinate child, I’m afraid,” she said. “Besides, Olwen and I both cried terribly and hugged each other. I was mad about children,” she added gravely; “just mad about them, when I was young.”

“Was your father hard to persuade?” enquired Wolf.

The girl gave him one of her lowering sulkily-humorous glances.