"Yes," said Peaches. "But I won't eat my supper 'til I have it." "Now don't you get too bossy, Miss Chicken," warned Mickey. "There's a surprise in this supper like you never had in all your life. I guess you'd eat it, if you'd see it." "I wouldn't 'til I had my po'try piece." In consideration of the poetry piece Mickey desisted. The inference was too flattering. Between narrowed lids he looked at Lily. "You fool sweet little kid," he muttered. Then he prepared supper. When he set it on the table he bent over and taking both hands he said gently: "_Flowersy-girl of moonbeam white, Golden head of sunshine bright, Dancing eyes of sky's own blue, No other flower in the world like you._" "Get the slate!" cried Peaches. "Get the slate! Now _that's_ a po'try piece. That's the best one yet. I'm going to put that right under the cow!" "Sure!" said Mickey. "I think that's the best yet myself. You see, you make them come better every time, 'cause you get so much sweeter every day." "Then why did you make the bad one?" she pouted. "Well every time you just yell 'I won't,' without ever giving me a chance to tell you _what_ I'm going to do, or why," explained Mickey. "If only you'd learn to wait a little, you'd do better. If I was to tell you that Carrel man was at the door with a new back for you, if you turn over and let him put it in, I s'pose you'd yell: 'I won't!'" The first tinge of colour Mickey had seen, almost invisibly faint, crept to the surface of Peaches' white cheek. "Just you try it, Mickey-lovest!" she exclaimed. "Finish your supper, and see what I try." Peaches obeyed. She had stopped grabbing and cramming. She ate slowly, masticating each morsel as the nurse told Mickey she should. To-night he found her so dainty and charming, as she instinctively tried to be as nice as her dress and supper demanded, that he forgot himself, until she reminded him. Then he rallied and ate his share. He presented the cakes, and while they enjoyed them he described every detail of the day he thought would interest her, until she had finished. He told her of the nurse and the dresses and when she wanted to see the others he said: "No sir! You got to wait till you are bathed and dressed each evening, and then you can see yourself, and that will be more fun than taking things all at once. You needn't think I'm coming in here _every_ night with a great big lift-the-roof surprise for you. Most nights there won't be anything for you only me, and your supper." "But Mickey, them's the nicest nights of all!" said Peaches. "I like thinking about you better than nurse-ladies, or joy-ladies, or my back, even; if it wasn't for having supper ready to _help_ you."