"Yes. When we were first married, his vessel traded in the Levant, and brought back fruits and silks and shawls and nuts, and ever so many things. After that we went to India, Calcutta. We took one of my sisters, and she married an English merchant, and has been home only once since then." "Oh, I shouldn't like Margaret to live in Calcutta," the little girl said, startled. Mrs. French smiled. "Then we were away almost four years. We went to the Chinese ports as well, and to some of the curious islands. We took a cargo of tea to London." "I know a little girl who has just gone to London, and who is to go on to Germany to take some special kind of baths. She is my very dear friend." "Is she ill?" "She is a great deal better now. When we first knew her, she couldn't walk but a few steps. She was in the hospital where my brother used to go when he was first a doctor. Then she came to live in our street." "With her parents?" "Oh, yes. She has one aunt, but no brothers or sisters. It must seem strange not to have any," and Hanny glanced up. "It would be strange to me. I had ten in all, and there is only one dead. Eugene is the oldest of the second family. One married brother lives in Baltimore, one only a short distance from here. And you have six brothers,--a good supply for one little girl." "I suppose some of them belong to Margaret," and she gave a soft, rippling laugh. "We haven't ever divided them up. But Joe belongs to me. When I get to be a woman, and he has a good big practice, I am going to keep house for him." "But what will your father do?" "Why--" Hanny had not considered that point. "Oh, it won't be in a long while! And then father will be old, and he will come and live with us, I think. Dolly says she is going to have mother." Mrs. French thought the division rather amusing. "Where is Captain French gone now?" "To China again. He has been going back and forth to Liverpool; but he had an excellent offer for the long trip. I concluded not to go, grandpa was so old and feeble. And my sister is coming to England to live. Her husband is heir now to a fine estate and a title; and they have quite a family of children." "Then you will want to go to England to see her," said Hanny. "Indeed, I shall. I have not seen her in seven years; since the time she was here." "We all liked Mr. Eugene so much," Hanny remarked. "And Luella has grown so, I hardly knew her." "They have a trick of growing up. I hope you won't be in any hurry." "I am small of my age," and Hanny gave a soft sigh. "It will take you a long time to get as large as your mother." Hanny wasn't sure that she wanted to be quite so large. Yet she didn't really want her mother changed. And, oh, she wouldn't have her as thin as Mrs. Reed for all the world!