“Yes, sir, she did.”

“Well, she’s a—­she’s what she is.  What else did she say to you?”

“She—­she said I was a bad, wicked child and she hoped I’d be sent to the—­the orphans’ home.  If she was to have the care of me, she said, she’d make me walk a chalk or know why.  And she sent me to my room and said I couldn’t have any supper.”

Zoeth and the Captain looked at each other.  Baxter frowned.

“On the very day of her father’s funeral,” he muttered.

“Can’t I have any supper?” begged Mary-’Gusta.  “I’m awful hungry; I didn’t want much dinner.”

Zoeth nodded.  His tone, when he spoke, was not so mild as was usual with him.

“You shall have your supper,” he said.

“And—­and must I go to the orphans’ home?”

No one answered at once.  Zoeth and Captain Shad again looked at each other and the Judge looked at them both.

“Must I?” repeated Mary-’Gusta.  “I—­I don’t want to.  I’d rather die, I guess, and go to Heaven, same as Mother and Father.  But Mrs. Hobbs says they don’t have any dolls nor cats in Heaven, so I don’t know’s I’d want to go there.”

Baxter walked to the window and looked out.  Captain Shadrach reached into his pocket, produced a crumpled handkerchief, and blew his nose violently.  Zoeth stroked the child’s hair.

“Mary-’Gusta,” he said, after a moment, “how would you like to go over to South Harniss and—­and see me and Cap’n Gould a little while?  Just make us a visit, you know.  Think you’d like that?”

The Captain started.  “Good land, Zoeth!” he exclaimed.  “Be careful what you’re sayin’.”

“I ain’t sayin’ anything definite, Shadrach.  I know how you feel about it.  I just wanted to see how she felt herself, that’s all.  Think you’d like that, Mary-’Gusta?”

Mary-’Gusta thought it over.  “I guess maybe I would,” she said, “if I could take my dolls and David.  I wouldn’t want to leave David.  Mrs. Hobbs don’t like cats.”

And at that moment Mrs. Hobbs herself appeared in the doorway of the carriage room.  She saw the child and her eyes snapped.

“So she was here,” she said.  “I thought as much.  Mary-’Gusta, what did you run away from that room for?  Didn’t I forbid you leavin’ it?  She’s been a bad girl, Judge Baxter,” she added, “and I can’t make her behave.  I try my best, but I’m sure I don’t know what to do.”

Captain Shadrach thrust both hands into his pockets.

“I tell you what to do,” he said, sharply.  “You go into the house and put some of her things into a valise or satchel or somethin’.  And hurry up as fast as you can.”

Mrs. Hobbs was astonished.

“Put ’em in a satchel?” she repeated.  “What for?  Where’s she goin’?”

“She’s goin’ home along with me and Zoeth.  And she’s got to start inside of half an hour.  You hurry.”

“But—­but—­”

“There ain’t any ‘buts’; haven’t got time for ’em.”