"I air prayin' for it every day, kid."
"When you ain't afeered of Auburn any more," said the girl, after a moment's silence, "we'll go away from this shanty, an' mebbe we can both work. That'd be nice, eh, Andy?"
"Anything'd be nice if I air with you, an' the baby, brat," he choked.
"Oh, you'll stay with us all right," smiled Tessibel. "Daddy left me to take care of you an' I air goin' to do it!"
Conversation lagged for a time. The dwarf poured out a cup of tea, and placed a large slice of bread on a plate with some potatoes and meat. These he took to the bedside.
"I don't know what we'd a done without Jake," he observed, drawing his chair to the table.
Tess was beginning to eat a late dinner. Between bites she smilingly assented.
"Jake air a awful good man.... Andy, ain't the baby stirrin' on the chair?"
The dwarf went to the improvised cradle and carefully drew away the blanket.
"He wants turnin' on 'is other side, that air all." With deft fingers he rolled the baby boy over, placed the sugar rag between the twisting lips, and went back to his dinner.