Anna put the kitten tenderly down on the hearth. “You’re not going upstairs, Anna?” asked Mrs. Lorraine. “I think I’ll run straight home and see my baby,” returned Anna, who knew well that Alice Lorraine was not in her room or in the Hollow at all. And she acted upon her words. She sighed as she climbed the stair at home to her own chamber. The problem of Alice seemed too big for the like of her. But she sighed yet more deeply when Freddy came up to say that Mr. Langley was down in the sitting-room. Had something happened? she asked herself in terror; or was it only that he had come to ask her if she had spoken to Alice? But no, he had given her until to-morrow. Looking over the baby to see that he was immaculate, she picked him up and went down, not even stopping to glance at the mirror, though she had been lying on her bed. “Anna looks almost as much a child as the baby himself,” Mr. Langley remarked to Mrs. Miller, rising as the girl entered with little Joe on her arm, his starched frock standing out over his frilled petticoats, his mournful, colourless face against her rosy one, the wisp of hair on top of his head contrasting oddly with her thick yellow mop of short locks. “She’s just wearing herself out with that child, Anna is,” remarked her mother rather fretfully. “Let me have him, pray Anna,” said the minister eagerly holding out his arms. The baby went to him indifferently. He was equally indifferent to the remainder of the company that filled the room. Miss Penny and Mrs. Lorraine had come over to be in time for him when he waked. All the Millers were there. The boys always hung round when they felt sure the baby wouldn’t be left alone for them to mind, and Seth Miller never liked to leave the house when the child was awake. But one or many,--it was all a matter of indifference to little Joe. Anna was secretly relieved by the presence of Miss Penny and Mrs. Lorraine. For the minute she saw Mr. Langley she knew his coming had nothing to do with Alice. She recollected her visit at the parsonage the day before and knew as well as if he had announced it that he had come to bid her reconsider her decision. But he wouldn’t be likely to ask her before the others and if he did, it would be easier for her to refuse. But she sighed within her. She wasn’t sure. And fancy refusing Mr. Langley anything before Miss Penny! And she couldn’t explain afterwards even to Miss Penny that it was all for his ultimate good. That would be quite too smug! But he acted as if he had come merely for a social call. The baby rested in his arms, quiet and sober, while they talked of indifferent things though not indifferently. Mr. Langley and Mrs. Miller discussed the concert at the church last month and Seth Miller declared that his wife was full of music, and announced, to the surprise of all, that he planned to get a piano-forte before very long for her and the girls--Rusty would enjoy playing on it when she was home for her holidays.