“Peg?” queried Bobbie.
“Oh, she’s Lafe’s wife. Happy Pete and me stay in her house.”
The blind eyes flashed with sudden hope.
“Mebbe she’ll love me a little! Will she?” 103
“I hope so. Anyway, Lafe will. He loves everybody, even dogs. He’ll love you; sure he will!”
The boy shook his head doubtfully.
“Nobody but mothers are nice to blind kids. Well—well—’cept you. I’d like to go to Lafe’s house, though, but mebbe the woman wouldn’t want me.”
Jinnie had her own ideas about this, but because the child’s tears fell hot upon her hands, the mother within her grew to greater proportions. Three times she repeated softly, “Happy in Spite.”
“Happy in Spite,” she whispered again. Then she sat up with a brilliant smile.
“Of course I’m going to take you to Lafe’s. Here at Lafe’s my heart’s awful busy loving everybody. Now I’ve got you I’m going to take care of you, ’cause I love you just like the rest. Stand up and let me wipe your nose.”