The moment she
appeared, Hunne called out, "Where was it hit?" and then each one asked a
different question, and all at once:
"Is it a child?" "Is it a boy?" "How big is it?" "What is its name?" "Is
it much hurt?"
"Come into the house, first," said the mother, turning a deaf ear to the
shower of questions; and when they were clustered about her in the house,
she told them about the pale, delicate little maiden, with a bandage upon
her arm, so tight that she could scarcely use it. She said that the child
was apparently about Paula's age; that she spoke excellent German, and
looked very nice and well-bred; that her name was Dora, and last of all,
that she was to come into the garden after dinner, and then they could
make her acquaintance. All was now curiosity and excitement; how did the
child look--what would she say? And each began to speculate what his own
particular relation would be to the new-comer.
Paula stood still in intense delight; and only said, "Oh, if she is so
nice, and just my age, too, mamma, how happy I shall be!" She had visions
of a great, indissoluble friendship, and she could hardly wait till
afternoon.
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