But he devoutly hoped his mother would not send her there, and resolved to work harder than ever himself in order to keep her with them.
On his way home, Jack met him, all impatience to know why he had been sent for. When he saw Milly in his arms, he burst into a loud laugh. "Halloo, Bob, have you got a place as nurse-maid up there?" he shouted.
Bob tried to laugh too, but it was almost a failure, for he was feeling very troubled about the child. "If I'm to be a nurse, I shall have to do it at home, not up there," he said.
"What do you mean? What are you going to do with that child, then?" asked Jack, more quietly.
"Take her home," said Bob.
And then he explained to his brother what Dr. Mansfield's housekeeper had said to him.
Jack gave a prolonged whistle. "I don't see how we shall manage that at all," he said.
"Well, I shall try and work harder," said Bob, "so that we may keep her."
"I'll help you in that," replied his brother. "But to have a little thing like this with nobody to look after her but us rough chaps seems queer."
They did not speak again until they reached home, when Jack, taking Milly from his brother's arms, carried her in and placed her on the bed beside his mother.