“I don’t know. I reckon he went for food. How did you keep warm in here, if this is where you lived?”
“Didn’t keep warm. How could I? I ain’t been warm, not real clean through, since the last night I slep’ in my nice bed at Oak Knowe.”
“Why didn’t you come back? Or go to the railway stations? They are always heated, I reckon.”
“Did. Turned me out. Lemme stay a spell but then turned me out. Said I better go to the poorhouse but—won’t that boy never come!”
“He’s coming now, Jack,” she answered and was almost as glad as he of the fact.
Robin came whistling in, good cheer in the very sound.
“Here you are neighbor! Candle and matches—two cents. Pint of milk—three. Drink it down while I light up!”
Jack grabbed the milk bottle with both hands and drained it; then fell back again with a groan.
“’T hurts my stummick! Hurts my stummick awful!”