"'Cause I won't feel like a stray cat in the house then. I want to be some'ers where I've a right to be." "Wouldn't they let you work down at Lemuel Weeks'?" She shook her head. "Why not?" he asked. "They said I wasn't honest; they said they couldn't trust me with things, 'cause when I was hungry I took things to eat." "Was that the way you were treated at other places?" "Mostly." "Jane," asked Holcroft very kindly, "did anyone ever kiss you?" "Mother used to 'fore people. It allus made me kinder sick." Holcroft shook his head as if this child was a problem beyond him, and for a time they sat together in silence. At last he arose and said, "It's time to go home. Now, Jane, don't follow me; walk openly at my side, and when you come to call me at any time, come openly, make a noise, whistle or sing as a child ought. As long as you are with me, never do anything on the sly, and we'll get along well enough." She nodded and walked beside him. At last, as if emboldened by his words, she broke out, "Say, if mother married you, you couldn't send us away, could you?" "Why do you ask such a question?" said Holcroft, frowning. "I was a-thinkin'--" "Well," he interrupted sternly, "never think or speak of such things again." The child had a miserable sense that she had angered him; she was also satisfied that her mother's schemes would be futile, and she scarcely spoke again that day. Holcroft was more than angry; he was disgusted. That Mrs. Mumpson's design upon him was so offensively open that even this ignorant child understood it, and was expected to further it, caused such a strong revulsion in his mind that he half resolved to put them both in his market wagon on the morrow and take them back to their relatives. His newly awakened sympathy for Jane quickly vanished. If the girl and her mother had been repulsive from the first, they were now hideous, in view of their efforts to fasten themselves upon him permanently. Fancy, then, the climax in his feelings when, as they passed the house, the front door suddenly opened and Mrs. Mumpson emerged with clasped hands and the exclamation, "Oh, how touching! Just like father and child!" Without noticing the remark he said coldly as he passed, "Jane, go help Mrs. Wiggins get supper." His anger and disgust grew so strong as he hastily did his evening work that he resolved not to endanger his self-control by sitting down within earshot of Mrs. Mumpson. As soon as possible, therefore, he carried the new stove to his room and put it up. The widow tried to address him as he passed in and out, but he paid no heed to her. At last, he only paused long enough at the kitchen door to say, "Jane, bring me some supper to my room. Remember, you only are to bring it."