The child was the image of her father, only in her case the defects
were more accentuated: her face was still more pinched, and
absolutely colourless, and the large blue-gray eyes were out of
proportion to the other features. A fringe of red hair, curled very
stiffly, and set round the small face like a large frill, gave her a
curiously weird look. Some woman's hand must have curled it and tied
the wide limp bows of her sunbonnet under the sharp little chin.

Neither of them seemed to notice Malcolm Herrick's scrutiny, they
were so absorbed by the pigeons; but the scanty supply of corn had
soon been scattered, and the guests were flying off by twos and
threes.

"Oh see, dad!" exclaimed the child in her shrill little voice. "Oh,
my! ain't it heavenly to cut capers like that in the air; it is like
the merry-go-rounds at the fair," and then Kit clapped her hands as
another pretty creature rose softly and fluttered away in the
distance.

The air had been growing more sultry and oppressive every moment; a
heavy storm was evidently gathering--already a few heat-drops had
fallen. Malcolm was a man who noticed details; he perceived at once
that the ragged cover of the perambulator offered a flimsy and
insufficient protection. Then he glanced at the umbrella in his
hand; it was a dandified article, with a handsomely carved handle.

The two voices that usually wrangled within his breast for the
mastery made themselves heard.

"It is perfectly impossible for you to offer the umbrella that Anna