“Did you go home to ask permission, Eddy?” asked Charlotte, gravely.

Eddy nodded and hitched.

“Whom did you ask?”

Eddy hesitated.  He was casting about in his mind for the lie likely to succeed.

“Whom?” repeated Charlotte.

“Amy.”

“Amy just asked me if I knew where you were,” said Charlotte, pitilessly.

Eddy looked intently at his butterfly-book.  “This is a whopper,” said he.

“Come, Eddy,” said Charlotte.

“This is the biggest one of all,” said Eddy.

“Eddy,” said Charlotte.

Eddy looked up.  “I’m going to dinner with Mr. Anderson,” said he.

“Aunt Anna said I might.”

“You said Amy said you might,” said Charlotte.  “Eddy Carroll, don’t you say another word.  Come right home with me.”

Then suddenly the boy broke down.  All his bravado vanished.  He looked from her to Anderson and back again with a white, convulsed little face.  Eddy was a slight little fellow, and his poor shoulders in their linen blouse heaved.  Then he wept like a baby.

“I—­want to—­go,” he wailed.  “Charlotte, I want to—­g-o.  He is going to have—­roast beef for dinner, and I—­am hungry.”

Charlotte turned whiter than Eddy.  She marched up to her brother.  She did not look at Anderson.  “Begging!” said she.  “Begging!  What if you are hungry?  What of it?  What is that?  Hunger is nothing.  And then you have no reason to be hungry.  There is plenty in the house to eat—­plenty!” She glanced with angry pride at Anderson, as if he were to blame for having heard all this.  “Plenty!” she repeated, defiantly.

“Plenty of old cake left over from Ina’s wedding, and dry old crackers, and not enough eggs to go round,” returned Eddy.  “I am hungry.  I am, Charlotte.  All I have had since yesterday noon is five crackers and three pickles and one egg and a piece of chocolate cake as hard as a brick, besides one little, round, dry cake with one almond on top in the middle.  I’m real hungry, Charlotte.  Please let me go!”

Anderson quietly went out of the office.  He passed through the store door, and stood there when presently Charlotte and Eddy passed him.

“Good-morning,” said Charlotte, in a choked voice.

Eddy looked at him and sniffled, then he flung out, angrily, “What you going to take to our house?” he demanded of the consumptive man gathering up the reins of the delivery-wagon.

“Hush!” said Charlotte.

“I won’t hush,” said Eddy.  “I’m hungry.  What are you taking up to our house?  Say!”

“Some crackers and cheese and eggs,” replied the man, wonderingly.

“Crackers and cheese and old store eggs!” cried Eddy, with a howl of woe, and Charlotte dragged him forcibly away.

“What ails that kid?” Riggs asked of the man in the wagon.

“I believe them folks are half starved,” replied the man.