"Don't do that, Mrs. Martin! Don't give away your children!"
Poor woman! the pen dropped from her hand as the knife had dropped from Abraham's. She grasped Willie's arm, saying,—
"How can I help it? Do tell me!"
But Lampeer had grasped the other arm, and broke out with—
"You rogue, what do you mean?"
Willie's fine blue eyes turned quickly into Lampeer's one muddy eye.
"Let go!" he said, very quietly but very determinedly; "don't strike me, or my father will take the law on you."
Lampeer let go.
Just then the groceries came, and a minute later, Billy Horton's wagon drove up with the machine, and all the other boys, who came in and shook hands with the poor but delighted mother and her children. I cannot tell you any more about that scene. I only know that Lampeer went out angry and muttering.
X.