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Philip placed her firmly and began to recite “There was an old woman as I’ve heard tell.”

Charlotte chuckled and poked his face with her chubby fingers.

“Now, fee b’ind mice.”

“I don’t know that one, do I?” asked Philip, teasing.

“Why, yes you do! Don’t you know?—’Fee b’ind mice, See how ay wun!”

“I don’t think I can remember it unless you tell me first what your name is.”

“Sh’lotte Mee-ni-a Buckets V’n Hoosen Doosen V’n Ness.”

A ripple of laughter greeted this, Will adding a boyish “haw-haw!”

“Philip Van Buskirk, did you teach her that?” came from Mrs. Van Ness.

Philip grinned broadly. “I really didn’t think she’d remember. Smart child!”

“Why, Charlotte, your name isn’t Maria; here’s Ann Maria.”

“Yes, ’tis Meenia. Philip said,” insisted Charlotte, nodding her curls.

“Ah, Phil, now she’s let the cat out of the bag.”

“Kitty, kitty,” called Philip softly.

Charlotte jumped down and looked all round. “Why where’s a kitty? Don’t see any kitty!”

“What does she mean by ‘Buckets,’ Philip?”

“Van Buskirk,” replied Philip, arching his black brows and drawing his face into a comical look of pretended distress.