"That touched him, but unfortunately Aunt Dannie woke and gave a shiver.
"'Ugh!' she said. 'It's not fit for a dog to be out in such weather!'
"And then the imp pursed up his mouth and defied me.
"'I won't come, fanks,' he said.
"So I carried him, kicking and screaming, upstairs, undressed him, and put him into bed; and then, as I shut the door and came downstairs, he burst it open and shouted after me:
"'I hates you, Aunt Monnie, I hates you!'
"I heard the thud of his bare feet as he scampered back into bed. It may seem ridiculous, but I was in such a tumult that I came straight out of the house, drove the sheep back, and then tramped the roads to bring myself into order. For, Sidney, I cannot show it, but I dote on that child! He is all I live for, work for! Do you think he will learn to hate me? I do want to bring him up a self-disciplined industrious man; but am I making him my enemy by so doing?"
"Poor baby!" said Sidney, the soft tender look stealing into her eyes, the look that all mothers have, and that some single women have, too. "His heart is yours, you need not trouble, but your methods are drastic with him. I own he is a pickle, but I'm afraid I'm to blame for his demolishing your pigsty. I have filled his mind with the necessity of a foundation, and he applies it at once in a practical fashion to the first fresh-made building he sees!"
"Oh, I don't mind that so much, but I will not have him choose ease rather than duty."
Sidney laughed.