I'm as raw a recruit as ever put
on a uniform and fell in with the rest of the company for his first
drill. But--I mean to count one!"
"I'm sure you will," said I, regarding him with growing pleasure in
the sight.
"And Rhodora will count two," said he, his eyes following her. "One and
two, side by side, you know, stand for twelve."
"So they do," said I. "And seeing Rhodora as she looks now, I should
think she would make an efficient comrade."
His face glowed. Together we observed Rhodora, standing close by
Grandmother's side. The two, with Hepatica and our two men, made a
group, of which not the bride-elect, but Grandmother, was the precise
centre. The moment Rhodora had reached Grandmother's side she had put
herself in the background. Although she towered above the little old
lady she did not overwhelm her, and Grandmother herself had never seemed
a more gently dominating figure than now, in her sweeping black gown
with its rare laces, her white hair, in soft puffs, framing her delicate
face. And as, at a turn in the conversation, Grandmother looked up at
Rhodora, and Rhodora, bending a little, smiled back at her, answering in
the most deferential way, it was clear to me that the most efficient
element in the education of the girl had been her intercourse with this
old-time gentlewoman.
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