Tottie, leaned against the mantelpiece once more, observed the two with languid, but not unkindly, interest. "I wonder why the kid's father and mother don't do more for her," she hazarded.
Hull frowned. "It makes my blood boil when I think how that precious pair have loaded the child onto Miss Crosby," he answered.
"Pretty bony," agreed Tottie.
"And she's so brave about it—so uncomplaining. Why, any other girl would have put her niece into an orphanage."
The rooming-house keeper grinned. "Well, she did think of it," she said slyly. "But they turned her down. Y' see, Barbara—ain't a' orphan."
Now Barbara lifted an eager face. "My mother's in Africa, and my father's in Africa," she boasted.
"Out o' sight, pettie, out o' mind."
Hull took one of the child's hands in both of his. "You've got a mighty fine auntie, little girl," he said with feeling. "Just the best auntie in the whole world."
Barbara nodded. "And I love her," she answered, "best of everybody 'cept my mother."
Tottie threw up both well-powdered arms. "Hear that!" she cried. "Except her mother! And Clare says the kid ain't seen the mother since she was weaned!"