“Who’s that little girl, boy?” she asked. “The one with the pretty face and long black curls.” “Whatcher wanner knowfer?” Mrs. Theddon found a dime in the tiny bead bag at her girdle. “Now tell me the little girl’s name and what you know about her.” “Name’s Leggy—it’s short for sumpin’—Leeg—Leeg—sumpin’ like Leegar.” “You mean Allegra?” “Uh-huh!” “And what’s her last name?” “Ain’t got none. She didn’t have no fadder nor mudder like the rest of us. The fairies brought her. Leggy says so! Say, there ain’t no fairies, are there?” “So that’s why you’re all dressed alike. You’re orphans.” Mrs. Theddon’s eyes went back to the little girl. “And who’s looking out for you?” “Leggy is. We couldn’t come to the Park at all if it warn’t fer her. She’s a cuckoo, Leggy is. She says she saw Santa Claus once. Say, there ain’t no Santa Claus, is there?” “I used to think so, little boy.” “I arst Miss Howlan’ once. But she got mad and tol’ me to get the hell out and stop askin’ foolish questions, or she’d slap my mouth——” “Who’s Miss Howland?” “She runs the dump we live at. She’s a quince and can’t get married. Say, you’re rich, aincher? Is that a real bird on your hat?” “And does this Miss Howland swear so before you children?” “Huh, hell ain’t swearin’. I know lots o’ words worse’n hell. So’s Miss Howland. Gee, you oughta hear her rip when she gets mad. She says goddam an’——” “Stop, boy, stop! I merely wish to know about that little girl. What’s the name of the Orphanage where you live?” “The Corpses is Christened—or sumpin’ sounds like it.” “You mean Corpus-Christi?” “Uh-huh! Guess so!” “And how long has that little girl been at the Corpus-Christi Orphanage?” “Since ’fore the world was made, I guess—a nawful long time. She b’longs to Miss Howlan’.” “Belongs to her!” “Yeah! Miss Howlan’s fixed it so Leggy can’t be adopted. When people come and wanner kid, the first they allus grab is Leggy. So Miss Howlan’s hooked her up, and Leggy’ll have to stay to the place and be a orphan till she’s old and got grand-chillun. Miss Howlan’ said she done a good job when she hooked Leggy. I heard her tell Bridget; she cooks the stuff we eat and then eats it herself.” “And you’re sure you never heard the little girl’s last name?” “Say, wasser matter wicher? I said she ain’t got none, din’t I? She warn’t born like the rest of us. They found her sleepin’ on a haycock in a field. It was near some woods where the fairies stole out and left her. Say, what’s a haycock?” “And how long ago was it they found her?” “Gee, you’re thick, aincher? I said it was a nawful long time back, ’fore my fadder busted my mudder open, and then skipped so he wouldn’t have to go to jail, and they shoved me in the Corpses is Christened dump to be a orphan——” The boy’s worldly wisdom disturbed Mrs. Theddon so painfully that she finally dismissed him in relief. Then she called the Fairy Foundling.