There! Run along to bed, and take my blessing with you.

I'll send a line to Piet, if you like, and tell him you don't object to waiting for him a bit longer under your old father's roof.

Come, be off with you! I'm going to lock up." He hoisted himself out of his chair with the words, looked at her fondly for a moment, took her pretty face between his hands, and kissed her twice.
"She's the worst pickle of the lot," he declared softly.
He did not add that she was also his darling of them all, but this was a perfectly open secret between them, and had been such as long as Nan could remember.

She laughed up at him with tender impudence in recognition of the fact..