Gabby gave Phoebe another little hug. “Your ayah was right in the main. But sometimes a fib is permissible if you can make someone feel happy. Mrs. Sibbald would very much like to think that you are learning stories from the Bible. And when I told her you were, she felt happy.”

“I don’t think Mrs. Sibbald ever feels happy,” Phoebe observed, after thinking about it for a time.

“You could be right,” Gabby replied. “But in that case, Phoebe, it is even more important not to overset her.”

“Do you think that if I told my new mama that I had some money it would make her happy? Would it make her like me?”

Gabby swallowed. “Oh, sweet pea, I am only talking about little fibs. You couldn’t say such a thing to your new mother! That’s a big untruth, as opposed to a small one. And it is very important not to tell even small untruths to important people like your new mother.”

There was an unconvinced silence.

Gabby thought desperately. Really, for all her eagerness to have children, she was beginning to see that it was far more difficult than she had imagined.

“Are you bringing any money to your new husband?” Phoebe’s voice was muffled because she had her face pressed to Gabby’s shoulder.

“Yes,” Gabby said reluctantly. “But that money will not make Peter love me.”

Phoebe’s face popped up like an inquisitive robin from its nest. “Why not?”

“Peter will love me for myself,” Gabby said with quiet conviction. “Just as your mother will love you for yourself.”

The little girl hopped onto her feet. “Well, then, why did you tell Mrs. Sibbald that Kasi was in his chamber having a nap? That wasn’t true, and it didn’t make her happy.”

“A different kind of rule,” Gabby explained. “My sweet Kasi is frightened to death of Mrs. Sibbald.”

“What kind of rule?” Phoebe inquired.

“You have to protect the weak from the strong,” Gabby said, and then amended herself. “That’s not exactly right, Phoebe. You know what Kasi is like. Handing him to Mrs. Sibbald would be like feeding the goat to the tiger.”

There was a slight noise behind the screen protecting the tub from plain sight. The little girl peered around the screen. “Kasi Rao, it’s time to get out of there.” She put her small hands on her hips. “What would Mrs. Sibbald say if she could see you in the tub with all your clothes on?”

“Let him stay there if he prefers,” Gabby called across the room.

But Phoebe shook her head firmly and stated, with a force that Mrs. Sibbald would have admired, “It is time to have tea, Kasi. You needn’t worry. I won’t let Gabby talk about the tiger again.”