"Not more than one, or two at the most."
"Two would do, you know," exclaimed Ruth carried beyond discretion, "the mother and one of the puppies, Billy."
"What are you talking about?" said Miss Hester, in surprise.
Ruth's cheeks began to burn and she fingered Miss Hester's apron nervously.
That lady quietly lifted one of the cold hands. "What icy fingers, Ruth," she said. "Are you so cold?"
"No, Aunt Hester, I'm not cold only—only there are four puppies, you know, and the mother. We do want so much to keep two. Oh, won't you be as good as your father and let us keep them? They are in the wood-shed and we are going to give them half our supper."
"Four puppies and their mother in the wood-shed!" exclaimed Miss Hester in astonishment. "How did they get there?"
"They just came," said Billy, eagerly coming into the conversation. "I found them there this afternoon. She's awfully nice, Aunt Hester; you ought just to see her lick your hand, and the puppies are great; there's one with spots—"
"And one with brown ears," Ruth chimed in. "I'd love that one. It looks like its mother. She has brown ears and eyes just like Stray."
"I must see about this," said Miss Hester. "I am sorry, children, but I am afraid we cannot afford to keep any of them, for it would mean another mouth to feed."