But Eva, frightened at finding herself quite away from her own people, threw herself on the doorstep and hid her face in a fit of sobbing.
"I won't be nobody's chum! Take me home to mummy," she said.
Betty's arms closed round her consolingly.
"So I will directly Jack can tell me where mummy lives," said Betty. "Come along, Jack, and show me where to take her."
CHAPTER III
NEW NEIGHBOURS
A resolute-looking little woman faced Betty as she crossed the threshold of the door of the new neighbour. Betty carefully deposited Eva on one of the boxes which littered the floor and explained her presence.
"It was kind of you to bring her back. Pussie has a sad trick of poking in her nose where she's not wanted," said Eva's mother; but the child, restored to confidence, raised indignant protest.
"Boy does want me; he wants me for a chum, mummy, and I think he's nice! Just look at him."
Betty watched the grave little face soften into a smile as the eyes rested first on Eva and then on Jack, who stood shyly in the doorway.