Then he turned with a puzzled look to Nan. "How does he take it? D'ye pour it down his throat?" he asked.
"No, no!" cried Nan, hastily, as he seized the bowl of milk. "You must feed it to him with a spoon."
"All right!" and utterly regardless of the grinning waiters Tode began to feed the baby, depositing quite as much in his neck as in his mouth, while Nan looked on, longing to take the matter into her own hands, but afraid to interfere. Suddenly Tode glanced at her.
"Why don't ye eat?" he said, with a gesture toward the food on the table. The girl coloured and drew back.
"Oh I can't," she exclaimed, hastily, "I ain't--I don't want anything."
"Ain't ye hungry?" demanded Tode in a masterful tone.
"N--not much," stammered Nan, but the boy saw a hungry gleam in her eyes as she glanced at the food.
"Y'are, too! Now you jest put that out o' sight in a hurry!"
But Nan shook her head. "I'm no beggar," she said, proudly, "and some time I'm going to pay you for that," and she pointed to the bowl of bread and milk.
"Shucks!" exclaimed the boy. "See here! I've ordered that stuff an' I'll have it to pay for anyhow, so you might's well eat it. I don't want it," and he devoted himself again to the child.