“Oh, you can't coax me, eh? I am glad to know that. I was afraid, rather.” “Well, of course, I can coax you, Papa, but you usually find some other way, and then I know it is quite right.” “I wish I was quite as sure of that, Jane. But you are going to bring Larry home with you?” “Yes, if Mrs. Gwynne will let him come. I told her we had four rooms and we were only using two, and they are all crowded up in Mrs. Sleighter's, two girls in each room, and Tom's room is so tiny, and I don't think Larry would like to go in Tom's room. And we have two empty rooms, so we might just as well.” “Yes, certainly, we might just as well. You might perhaps mention it to Anna.” “Oh, I did, Papa, and she said she would have it all ready.” “So it is all arranged. I was thinking--but never mind.” “I know you were thinking, that I ought to have asked you, Papa; and I ought to have. But I knew that when a little boy had no home to go to you would of course--” “Of course,” replied her father hurriedly. “You were quite right, Jane. And with those two rooms, why not bring them all, Joe and Pete--Pete, is it?” “Sam, Papa. I am not so sure. I think we should leave Joe and Sam. You see Joe won't mind staying in the car. Nora says he lives in just a shack at home, and Sam--I am a little afraid of Sam. We don't know him very well, you see.” “I see. We are quite safe in your hands, little woman. You can do just as you and Mrs. Gwynne arrange.” As the father watched the little, trim, sturdy figure stepping down the street he muttered to himself, “That child grows more like her mother every day.” He heaved a great sigh from the depths of his heart. “Well, God keep her, wise little woman that she is! I wish I were a wiser man. I must be firm with her; it would be a shame to spoil her. Yes, I must be firm.” But he shrugged his shoulders and smiled at himself. “The worst of it is, or the best of it is,” he continued, “the little witch is almost always right, God bless her, just like her mother, just like her mother.” He hastily wiped his eyes, and went off to his office where Mrs. Dean awaited him and her little girl with the burned hand. And the mother wondered at the gentleness of him as he dressed the little girl's wounded hand.