"Is it good?"
"It's delicious!"
"If it's good, have some more."
"Mother says I can't eat too many sweets. They'll rot my teeth."
"That's all right. You can just brush your teeth afterward."
Taking advantage of Katie feeding Maria, Frederick reached a claw toward the plate on the coffee table.
The plate held cheese rolls. They were made by wrapping dough around metal cylinders and frying them in oil until crisp. Once removed, they became crispy rings. Then melted cheese was poured inside and left to cool and set. You could also add chopped nuts or candied fruit. They were crunchy and sweet.
"Smack!"
Katie slapped Frederick's paw away and glared at him. "These are for Maria!"
Frederick pouted and turned to Richard Nahl, only to find his master looking utterly benevolent and happy.
Richard Nahl watched the two black-haired girls, one old and one young, and said, "If Katie had married at the same age as other girls, her child would be about Maria's age by now."
Frederick had nothing to say.
In the end, Maria was the one who asked Katie, "Sister Katie, may I give Frederick one of the cheese rolls?"
"Of course," Katie replied gently.
Then she turned to Frederick. "Hurry up and thank Maria."
Perhaps because they both had black hair and eyes, Katie and Maria got along especially well. Richard Nahl had even started imagining Maria as his own granddaughter.
Frederick felt he couldn't stay in the living room any longer. After thanking Maria, he clamped a cheese roll in his mouth and fled.
He went to Psyche's room and found her sitting by the window, sewing a red hooded cape.
Frederick went over to take a look, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Is that for Maria?"
"Sure is." Psyche asked with a