Elnora smothered his face against her breast and rocked.

“You love me, don’t you?”

“I will, if you will go to sleep.”

“Every single day you will give me your dinner for the bologna, won’t you,” said Billy.

“Yes, I will,” replied Elnora.  “But you will have as good lunch as I do after this.  You will have milk, eggs, chicken, all kinds of good things, little pies, and cakes, maybe.”

Billy shook his head.  “I am going back home soon as it is light,” he said, “she don’t want me.  She thinks I’m a bad boy.  She’s going to whip me—­if he lets her.  She said so.  I heard her.  Oh, I wish he hadn’t died!  I want to go home.”  Billy shrieked again.

Mrs. Comstock had started to walk slowly to meet Elnora.  The girl had been so late that her mother reached the Sinton gate and followed the path until the picture inside became visible.  Elnora had told her about Wesley taking Billy home.  Mrs. Comstock had some curiosity to see how Margaret bore the unexpected addition to her family.  Billy’s voice, raised with excitement, was plainly audible.  She could see Elnora holding him, and hear his excited wail.  Wesley’s face was drawn and haggard, and Margaret’s set and defiant.  A very imp of perversity entered the breast of Mrs. Comstock.

“Hoity, toity!” she said as she suddenly appeared in the door.  “Blest if I ever heard a man making sounds like that before!”

Billy ceased suddenly.  Mrs. Comstock was tall, angular, and her hair was prematurely white.  She was only thirty-six, although she appeared fifty.  But there was an expression on her usually cold face that was attractive just then, and Billy was in search of attractions.

“Have I stayed too late, mother?” asked Elnora anxiously.  “I truly intended to come straight back, but I thought I could rock Billy to sleep first.  Everything is strange, and he’s so nervous.”

“Is that your ma?” demanded Billy.

“Yes.”

“Does she love you?”

“Of course!”

“My mother didn’t love me,” said Billy.  “She went away and left me, and never came back.  She don’t care what happens to me.  You wouldn’t go away and leave your little girl, would you?” questioned Billy.

“No,” said Katharine Comstock, “and I wouldn’t leave a little boy, either.”

Billy began sliding from Elnora’s knees.

“Do you like boys?” he questioned.

“If there is anything I love it is a boy,” said Mrs. Comstock assuringly.  Billy was on the floor.

“Do you like dogs?”

“Yes.  Almost as well as boys.  I am going to buy a dog as soon as I can find a good one.”

Billy swept toward her with a whoop.

“Do you want a boy?” he shouted.

Katharine Comstock stretched out her arms, and gathered him in.

“Of course, I want a boy!” she rejoiced.

“Maybe you’d like to have me?” offered Billy.