"So you're planning not to allow me to do anything for Lily?" inquired Miss Winton. "Well there's something you can do this minute if you'd like," said Mickey. "I was going to hurry up and see my Sunshine Nurse, but it's a long way to the new hospital, and you could do as well, if you would." "Mickey, I'd love to. What is it? And may I see your family? You know I haven't had a peep yet." "Well soon now, you may," said Mickey. "You see I ain't quite ready." "Mickey, what do you know about the new Elizabeth Home?" asked Douglas. "Only that a rich lady gave her house and money, and that my Sunshine Nurse is going to be there after this. I was going for my first trip to-night." "I wondered," said Douglas. "Mickey, when you get there, you'll find that you've been there _before_." "My eye!" cried Mickey. "Fact! Mr. Minturn did put his foot down, and took his boys----" began Douglas. "Yes he was telling me this morning. That's what I get for stopping at the first page. If I'd a-looked inside, bet I'd have known that long ago." "He was telling you?" queried Douglas. "Yes. I guess I must kind of shied at him 'til he noticed it; I didn't _know_ I did, but he caught me and told me his troubles by force. We shook hands to quit on. Say, he's just fine when you know him, and there doesn't seem to be a thing on earth he wouldn't do for you, Miss Leslie. Why he said if ever he found happiness again, and his home become what it should, it would be because you were sorry for him, and fixed things." "Mickey, did he really?" rejoiced the girl. "Douglas, when may Mickey show me what he wants me to do?" "Right now," he answered. "I got a load of books while he was away yesterday and I haven't started them yet. Now is the best time." When Mickey made a leap from the trolley platform that night, at what he already had named Cold Cream Junction, he was almost buried under boxes. He stepped high and prideful, for he had collected the money from his paper route and immediately spent some of it under Leslie Winton's supervision. Pillow bolstered, on the front porch, on his comfort lay the tiny girl he loved. Mickey stopped and made a detailed inspection. Peaches leaned forward and reached toward him; her greeting was indescribably sweet. Mickey dropped the bundles and went into her arms; even in his joy he noted a new strength in her grip on him, an unusual clinging. He drew back half alarmed. "You been a good girl?" he queried suspiciously. "Jus' as good!" asserted Peaches. "You didn't go and say any----?" "Not ever Mickey-lovest! Not one!" she cried. "I ain't even _thinked_ one! That will help, Peter says so!" "You have been washed and fed and everything all right?" he proceeded. "Jus' as right!" she insisted. "You like the nice lady?" he went on. "Jus' love the nice lady, an' Mary, an' Bobbie, an' Peter, an' Junior, jus' love all of them!" she affirmed.