From the passage he was heard vigorously blowing his nose.
"It's them toys he's after," said Mrs. Bindle, with scornful conviction.
"Toys?" Millie looked up enquiringly.
"He bought a lot of hideous things for this little precious," and her eyes fell upon the bundle in her arms, her lips breaking into a curve that Bindle had never seen.
"You see, Millie," she continued, "he doesn't know. We've neither chick nor child of——" She broke off suddenly, and bowed her head low over the baby.
In a second Millie was on her feet, her arm round Mrs. Bindle's shoulders.
"Dear Aunt Lizzie!" she cried, her voice a little unsteady. "Darling Aunt Lizzie. I—I know—I——"
At this point Joseph the Second, objecting to the pressure to which he was being subjected between the two emotional bosoms, raised his voice in protest, just as Bindle entered, his arms full of the toys he had bought.
He stood in the doorway, gaping with amazement.
As Mrs. Bindle caught sight of him, she blinked rapidly.