“Since you can’t be less?” Richard suggested. “Perhaps you can’t be more, either, in another sense? At least you are a good child, and I’m grateful to you. What nice times we have in this rather nice room which I made once upon a time and still enjoy almost as if I saw it! I’m glad that we have long days to ourselves and don’t suffer many interruptions. Yes, Stetson, want me?” he added as his man put his head into the doorway, knocking on the casement as he did so. “Little Miss Berkley is here, sir, little Anne Berkley. And young Mr. Carrington--though for that matter the only Mr. Carrington--to see you, Mr. Latham,” he said. “Bring them in here, Stetson,” said Richard Latham, rising and passing his hand over the back of his head which he had been indulging in a pleasant friction against the back of his chair. “Please, Miss Dallas, am I too badly rumpled? Miss Anne Berkley is a critical though dear friend of mine.” “No, not badly rumpled,” returned Anne. Her cheeks were red and her eyes had brightened at the announcement of these visitors. Stetson returned with them. Little Anne was freshly, beautifully groomed. She precipitated herself upon Richard Latham with a cry of joy, as if she had not been sure of finding him unchanged. “I’ve not seen you in ages, and I certainly am glad I came!” she cried. “Thank you, my dear; I echo your sentiments, with the added interest of five times your years,” said Richard, shaking her hand, earnestly. “No, you don’t love people better because you’re the oldest, do you?” Little Anne corrected him. Then she remembered her duty. “I brought my friend Kit--Mr. Christopher Carrington, to see you.” She turned, but Kit was talking to Anne Dallas and for an instant little Anne stared, recalling what she had forgotten. “Well, to think I never remembered!” she gasped. “This is him,” she added, her customary English deserting her under the stress of emotion. “This is Kit, Mr. Latham. He thought he’d like to know you on account of your works, only I guess----” She checked herself; Anne was a discreet child, and sympathetic. “Glad to see you, Mr. Carrington,” said Richard Latham, heartily, using a verb that did not seem inappropriate to him. “I know your aunt, Miss Carrington. She is a clever woman, most interesting.” “She is a wonder, is Aunt Anne,” agreed Kit. “She would have brought me here, but I met little Anne and availed myself of her friendly offices.”