Anxious that Peter should understand everything Nancy made a vivid word-picture of Miss Sabrina and of the difficulties she had had in winning her. "I believe she's fond of me now, but she just doesn't know _how_ to show it! She's never displayed one bit of affection in her whole life, I'm sure. She's stone. But sometime she's going to break--I'm doing my best to make her! I know she enjoys having dear little Aunt Milly around, but do you think she'd say so? Goodness no. But there's a lot of good in Aunt Sabrina and I'm bound to know it all, so I make it my duty to sit with her just so long each day while she tells me about the Leavitts and the other families of this Island. And there _is_ something heroic about them all! "So here I am, just tingling to finish the last act of my play and not a moment to myself! If it isn't precious Aunt Milly or Aunt Sabrina or B'lindy or even dear old Jonathan, it's Nonie or Davy or----" "Or me," finished Peter Hyde, glancing significantly at the neglected work. "Your hands _are_ full!" Nancy went on earnestly. "And it all seems so worth while! Look at Nonie--she's a different creature already. I don't believe she pretends as much, either--her little body is catching up with her spirit. And Davy doesn't hang his head when he looks at you!" Peter Hyde could understand her feeling toward the children. They had planned together to bring something more into those two starved young lives. Like Nancy, he was delighted at the results already apparent. It _was_ work too worth while to be abandoned--for anything. "Nonie fairly eats up the books I give her but she always wants to read them with me--it's so that she can ask questions. And the questions she asks! Every new thing she learns she immediately adapts to her own life. We've begun 'Little Women' and of course she plays Amy! Poor little flower, sometimes I think of old Dan'l and Liz and wonder from where on earth the child got her gift. And what a precious blessing it is to her!" Recalling Davy's contempt for his sister's "actin' lies," they both laughed. "How could _anyone_ think bad things of Davy," cried Nancy, indignantly. "He's the soul of truth and honor! But up here he won't have a chance." "Oh, yes, he will!" Peter contradicted. "If I'm any good reading character in a ten-year-old he'll _make_ a chance. He's a leader, now. Look at the way the other boys follow his slightest suggestion!"