But he clung to Anna, and though he was never other than mournful even with her, he was passively content. And Anna adored him. It was no task for her to hurry home from school to relieve her mother--she could scarcely wait to get at the baby after any absence. He slept in an old cradle (salvaged from Miss Penny’s garret) by the side of her bed, and the girl was ready to get up at any hour of the night for milk or water, and sang to him by the hour in her sweet young voice. She spent nearly all the money she had saved in a year in the purchase of a wardrobe for the baby, who was the best-dressed child of his age, or perhaps of any age, in the two villages. She took pride and pleasure in ironing the frills and laces of his little frocks and petticoats and in keeping him immaculately tidy,--the latter being easy, as the baby never played, and if he was placed on the floor never moved from the spot. She brushed the scanty hair on top of his head, longing for the time when there should be enough to make a curl. But one day as she did this, it came to the girl that when that time should come, in all likelihood Joe, Junior, wouldn’t be with her. Her heart sank. And it was borne in upon her that if she was to give the baby away, it must happen very soon. A little later, and it would be utterly impossible. Even now, she wouldn’t have been able even to contemplate the idea if it had been anyone but Mr. Langley who was to benefit thereby. Mr. Langley had been in to see little Joe and had taken to him more warmly than anyone else had done, unless one counted Alice in one mood. He had held the baby all the while he stayed and hadn’t seemed to know how to get away. He hadn’t seemed to feel any want in him; he had admired him apparently as much as Anna herself. He needed him more than she did, of course, but O, he didn’t _want_ him more! He didn’t know that he wanted him, for he did not dream that there was any chance of having him. Mrs. Langley kept it dark--trust her!--and Anna didn’t feel like saying anything until she was ready to receive the child. Miss Penny was the only other person who knew, and she, though she couldn’t keep a secret of her own, was quite safe with that of another. But he should know as soon as it was prudent, and that, Anna decided, must be very soon. She said to herself it was up to her to make what Caesar calls a forced march. [Illustration: Anna took pride and pleasure in ironing the frills and laces of his little frocks.] Already she had talked to Mrs. Langley of the baby for half an hour at a time, and had repeated her request to be allowed to bring him to the parsonage. Mrs. Langley always declared that it would break her heart to see him but Anna felt that one glimpse of him would settle the whole matter. Wherefore on the next Saturday she announced that she meant to bring Joe, Junior, with her that day-week. For an instant the invalid’s eyes brightened. Then she sighed deeply.