"No; I think a mother knows when she's got a treasure in her family.

If she HASN'T got one, she'll pretend she has, maybe; but if she has, she knows it.

I certainly know _I_ have.

She's always been what people call 'the joy of the household'-- always cheerful, no matter what went wrong, and always ready to smooth things over with some bright, witty saying.

You must be sure not to TELL we've had this little chat about her--she'd just be furious with me--but she IS such a dear child! You won't tell her, will you ?" "No," he said, and again applied the handkerchief to his forehead for an instant.