"Anna Belle,Anna Belle,has it come to this!"he murmured,picking up the neglected one,who,with her usual elasticity and exuberance of spirit,at once opened her eyes and beamed optimistically on her rescuer.He set her,facing him,on his knee."Such is youth!"he sighed."When she throws you down,I feel that I'm not going to be so recuperative as you,Anna Belle.I have a plan,however,a plan of self-defense;but if it weren't for your discretion,I shouldn't tell it to you,for I'm an old bird,young lady,and can't be caught with chaff.There are many worthy persons who may rise to lofty heights in eternity,who nevertheless,meanwhile are not desirable to sit opposite a man at his breakfast table.A visit,Anna Belle,a short visit from my daughter Julia is all I shall ask for at first,and Ishall test her,test her,my dear.I'll look at her through a magnifying glass.Of course,if they'd give me Jewel,it would be all I'd ask for;but they won't.That is self-evident."Here the child came around the corner of the house,leading her pet by a halter,but with her hand in his mane as she pressed close to his side,caressing and talking to him.In fact it was the harassing problem of the pony's life to manage to avoid stepping on her.Zeke lounged in the background on account equally of his orders and his inclination.
Star began cropping the grass,and Mr.Evringham continued his disquisition to the bright-eyed young person on his knee:--"My son Harry is turning out a pretty good sort,I fancy.I'm not particularly shy of giving him a trial,provided he'll do the same by me;but I suppose he will have to go West at first,anyway.Julia is a different thing.I can't whistle her on and off with the same frankness;and I must be careful,Anna Belle.Do you understand?