"And what was to become of the little un while I was there?" he demanded almost angrily.
"The little one!" repeated Mrs. Chaplin in some amazement.
"Aye, my Annie I mean. What would become of her if I wasn't here to take care of her?"
Annie had used the same words in reference to her father when she had been asked to go to Sunday-school on Sunday afternoons.
"Who would take care of daddy if I went away and left him by himself?" she had asked when Winny had suggested that there was a class for big girls at the mission Sunday-school.
Mrs. Chaplin smiled at the idea of the rough noisy Annie not being able to take care of herself, but as it seemed to be the rooted idea that neither could do without the other, she did not try to disturb it.
When the hot water was brought she carefully washed the foot, Annie looking on.
"I'll know what to do next time," she said, when the foot being thoroughly cleansed, Mrs. Chaplin bound up the wounds in clean wet rags, telling Annie to take care that they were kept wet, and then in a day or two, he would be able to put his shoe on again.
"How much longer am I to be kept in here?" demanded Brown impatiently.
For answer, his daughter gave him a playful box on the ears.