“I’m awfully sorry. I hoped they’d patch things up.” She put her hand to her eyes.
“It’s a shame!” cried Blue.
“’Sh! I don’t want him to know any more than is necessary.”
“He isn’t goin’ to hear! What’s the muss anyhow?”
“Oh! it’s about those hands that they discharged, and then they’ve asked for more wages.”
“I’ll try to git some extry jobs,” decided the boy.
“Please don’t say git,” corrected his mother, “and remember that extra is spelled with an a.”
“Oh, I for—get!” laughed Blue.
“You’re a good boy anyway,” the mother replied with a catch in her voice. “What should I do without you!” She clasped him there in the dark, while he made an impulsive resolve to be more worthy of her love and praise. Nevertheless he laughed.
“You haven’t got to do without me!” he told her, and ran back into the kitchen.