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68 TO THE LIGHTHOUSEperfect angel with the others, and sometimes now, atnight especially, she took one’s breath away with herbeauty. Andrew—even her husband admitted thathis gift for mathematics was extraordinary. AndNancy and Roger, they were both wild creaturesnow, scampering about over the country all day long.As for Rose, her mouth was too big, but she had awonderful gift with her hands. If they had charadesRose made the dresses; made everything; liked bestarranging tables, flowers, anything. She did not likeit that Jasper should shoot birds; but it was only astage; they all went through stages. Why, sheasked, pressing her chin on James’s head, shouldthey grow up so fast? Why should they go to school?She would have liked always to have had a baby.She was happiest carrying one in her arms. Thenpeople might say she was tyrannical, domineering,masterful, if they chose; she did not mind. And,touching his hair with her lips, she thought, he willnever be so happy again, but stopped herself, re-membering how it angered her husband that sheshould say that. Still, it was true. They werehappier now than they would ever be again. A ten-penny tea-set made Cam happy for days. She heardthem stamping and crowing on the floor above herhead the moment they woke. They came bustlingalong the passage. Then the door sprang open andin they came, fresh as roses, staring, wide awake, asif this coming into the dining-room after breakfast,which they did every day of their lives, was a positiveevent to them; and so on, with one thing afteranother, all day long, until she went up to say good-night to them, and found them netted in their cots