It did not take Davy very long to make up his mind. Then, with determination written in every wrinkle of his frowning face, he lifted the baby and hurried to his home. An hour later, still carrying the baby, he trudged doggedly up the road to Happy House, through the gate, along the path to the door. Only for a moment did he pause on the threshold; then, softly opening the door, he entered, and came out again, empty-armed. The oppressiveness of the day had decidedly ruffled the atmosphere of Happy House. Miss Sabrina had taken the news of Nancy's flight with a disapproving grunt; B'lindy had sharply come to Nancy's defense. She "guessed girls had to be girls anyways, though she'd a feelin' in her bones that somethin' might happen and one never could tell 'bout them pesky machines." Then Miss Sabrina, taller and straighter than ever, had walked haughtily away as far as the sitting room, when a shriek brought B'lindy running. Miss Sabrina had dropped breathless into a chair and at her feet sat the Hopkins baby sucking its thumb. "B'lindy--what--what is it? I liked to fall over it!" "Land a' goshen--a _baby_! A _real_ live baby!" B'lindy leaned over cautiously. "Crawled in here like a caterpillar! As I live, here's a note, Miss Sabrina!" She unpinned a piece of paper from the baby's dress. "Ples kep this child there ante enuf food fer so meny Hopkins Liz sez and she sez the Lord never ment any body to go hungry she sez your hous is big enuf fer a dusen and lots of food I gues you don't no thet ther ar so meny Hopkins and you will like to kepe this one I no how it hurts to be hungry so ples don't send this baby bak. Yours truly, Davy." B'lindy, after reading the note aloud, stared at the baby. "Sarah Hopkins' young 'un--I swan!" With her apron she wiped a tear from her eye. "No one to do for it now." Miss Sabrina snorted. "Of all the nerve--bringing it here--for me to break my neck on!" From above came Miss Milly's voice plaintively calling. "Take it away. Milly's calling--she's got to know what the excitement's about. I'll _never_ get over my fright," and Miss Sabrina, still trembling, rose to go to her sister. The baby puckered his face preparatory to a long wail. "Take it _out_," commanded Miss Sabrina, "it's going to cry--_give_ it something quick." B'lindy snatched the baby and flew to the kitchen. She could not bear to think that any living thing in Happy House was hungry. However, the threatened squall passed when B'lindy, after carefully shutting her doors, produced a bowl and a shiny spoon. It had not been alone Miss Sabrina's shriek that had frightened Miss Milly. She had heard a rumble of thunder. She was lying back among her pillows deadly pale. She clutched Miss Sabrina's hand and begged her to stay with her. "I know I'm foolish," she whispered plaintively, "but it's so oppressive. It's hard--for me--to breathe."