第70章

Thoughutterlyunlikeincharacter，thetwinsgotonremarkablywelltogether，andseldomquarreledmorethanthriceaday。Ofcourse，DemityrannizedoverDaisy，andgallantlydefendedherfromeveryotheraggressor，whileDaisymadeagalleyslaveofherself，andadoredherbrotherastheoneperfectbeingintheworld。Arosy，chubby，sunshinylittlesoulwasDaisy，whofoundherwaytoeverybody’sheart，andnestledthere。Oneofthecaptivatingchildren，whoseemmadetobekissedandcuddled，adornedandadoredlikelittlegoddesses，andproducedforgeneralapprovalonallfestiveoccasions。

Hersmallvirtuesweresosweetthatshewouldhavebeenquiteangelicifafewsmallnaughtinesseshadnotkeptherdelightfullyhuman。Itwasallfairweatherinherworld，andeverymorningshescrambleduptothewindowinherlittlenightgowntolookour，andsay，nomatterwhetheritrainedorshone，“Oh，pittyday，oh，pittyday!“Everyonewasafriend，andsheofferedkissestoastrangersoconfidinglythatthemostinveteratebachelorrelented，andbaby-loversbecamefaithfulworshipers。

“Melovesevvybody，“sheoncesaid，openingherarms，withherspooninonehand，andhermugintheother，asifeagertoembraceandnourishthewholeworld。

Asshegrew，hermotherbegantofeelthattheDovecotewouldbeblessedbythepresenceofaninmateassereneandlovingasthatwhichhadhelpedtomaketheoldhousehome，andtopraythatshemightbesparedalosslikethatwhichhadlatelytaughtthemhowlongtheyhadentertainedanangelunawares。Hergrandfatheroftencalledher`Beth’，andhergrandmotherwatchedoverherwithuntiringdevotion，asiftryingtoatoneforsomepastmistake，whichnoeyebutherowncouldsee。

Demi，likeatrueYankee，wasofaninquiringturn，wantingtoknoweverything，andoftengettingmuchdisturbedbecausehecouldnotgetsatisfactoryanswerstohisperpetual“Whatfor？“

Healsopossessedaphilosophicbent，tothegreatdelightofhisgrandfather，whousedtoholdSocraticconversationswithhim，inwhichtheprecociouspupiloccasionallyposedhisteacher，totheundisguisedsatisfactionofthewomenfolk。

“Whatmakesmylegsgo，Dranpa？“askedtheyoungphilosopher，surveyingthoseactiveportionsofhisframewithameditativeair，whilerestingafterago-to-bedfroliconenight。

“It’syourlittlemind，Demi，“repliedthesage，strokingtheyellowheadrespectfully。

“Whatisalittlemine？“

“Itissomethingwhichmakesyourbodymove，asthespringmadethewheelsgoinmywatchwhenIshowedittoyou。“

“Openme。Iwanttoseeitgowound。“

“Ican’tdothatanymorethanyoucouldopenthewatch。Godwindsyouup，andyougotillHestopsyou。“

“DoesI？“AndDemi’sbrowneyesgrewbigandbrightashetookinthenewthought。“IsIwoundeduplikethewatch？“

“Yes，butIcan’tshowyouhow，foritisdonewhenwedon’tsee。“

Demifelthisback，asifexpectingtofinditlikethatofthewatch，andthengravelyremarked，“IdessDoddoesitwhenI’sasleep。“

Acarefulexplanationfollowed，towhichhelistenedsoattentivelythathisanxiousgrandmothersaid，“Mydear，doyouthinkitwisetotalkaboutsuchthingstothatbaby？He’sgettinggreatbumpsoverhiseyes，andlearningtoaskthemostunanswerablequestions。“

“Ifheisoldenoughtoaskthequestionheisoldenoughtoreceivetrueanswers。Iamnotputtingthethoughtsintohishead，buthelpinghimunfoldthosealreadythere。Thesechildrenarewiserthanweare，andIhavenodoubttheboyunderstandseverywordIhavesaidtohim。Now，Demi，tellmewhereyoukeepyourmind。“

IftheboyhadrepliedlikeAlcibiades，“Bythegods，Socrates，Icannottell，“hisgrandfatherwouldnothavebeensurprised，butwhen，afterstandingamomentononeleg，likeameditativeyoungstork，heanswered，inatoneofcalmconviction，“Inmylittlebelly，“theoldgentlemancouldonlyjoininGrandma’slaugh，anddismisstheclassinmetaphysics。

Theremighthavebeencauseformaternalanxiety，ifDemihadnotgivenconvincingproofsthathewasatrueboy，aswellasabuddingphilosopher，foroften，afteradiscussionwhichcausedHannahtoprophesy，withominousnods，“Thatchildain’tlongforthisworld，“hewouldturnaboutandsetherfearsatrestbysomeoftheprankswithwhichdear，dirty，naughtylittlerascalsdistractanddelighttheirparent’ssouls。

Megmademanymoralrules，andtriedtokeepthem，butwhatmotherwaseverproofagainstthewinningwiles，theingeniousevasions，orthetranquilaudacityoftheminiaturemenandwomenwhosoearlyshowthemselvesaccomplishedArtfulDodgers？

“Nomoreraisins，Demi。They’llmakeyousick，“saysMammatotheyoungpersonwhooffershisservicesintheki