Anna took pride and pleasure in ironing the frills and laces of his little frocks.
Already she had talked to Mrs. Langley of the baby for half an hour at a time, and had repeated her request to be allowed to bring him to the parsonage. Mrs. Langley always declared that it would break her heart to see him but Anna felt that one glimpse of him would settle the whole matter. Wherefore on the next Saturday she announced that she meant to bring Joe, Junior, with her that day-week.
For an instant the invalid’s eyes brightened. Then she sighed deeply.
“O no, Anna, I couldn’t bear the sight of a baby. It would break my heart,” she declared. And her emotion was unfeigned.
“But it isn’t the same, Mrs. Langley, Joe, Junior, being a boy,” Anna protested. “If he made you think of anyone it wouldn’t be Ella May, it would be of that little lamb.”
“O, is his hair curly?” asked the invalid eagerly.
“Well, no, not yet,” Anna admitted regretfully. “But he has such a sober, meek little face, young, and yet sort of sedate and oldish, too, you know, that he makes me think of the little lamb.”
“Dear me, you are like a pretty lamb yourself, Anna, with your fuzzy yellow hair. I believe I really like you better with it cut so,” declared Mrs. Langley with sudden enthusiasm.
“You’d better take a good look at it then, for it will be longer before you see it again,” Anna suggested mischievously. “I shan’t be hiking down to the parsonage for some time, you see. I can’t come any more unless you let me bring Joe, Junior.”