“Naw.”
“Then what—what have you been?”
“L-l-licked!”
“Oh!” Phœbe went to her, taking one of the red hands, and drew her to a chair. “You poor little girl! Here! Sit down. Now tell me. Who licked you?”
The pale eyes became suddenly alive with fear. The drooping mouth tightened, and trembled. “Step-mother!”
“Oh!” cried Phœbe again. “You—so you’ve got a step!”
“Uh-huh.”
Phœbe sat down and regarded her visitor, marveling at her. A step-mother—a cruel step-mother who beat and tortured, exactly like the step-mothers in the movies! “Then you’re Manila Botts,” she declared.
“Yop.”
Somehow, Phœbe, hearing the name from Miss Ruth, had thought of Manila Botts as some one tall and plump—quite a grown person. And here—! “Tell me about your step-mother,” she bade.