"Well, they did adopt me," said Annie Lizzie. "Don't, Tommy, please! Ma says—"
"She ain't your Ma!" interrupted Tommy; "and I don't want you should call her so, Annie Lizzie; there!"
"Well, she says I would have gone on the town only for them," the soft voice went on. "You wouldn't want I should be ungrateful, would you, Tommy?"
"No, I wouldn't," said Tommy, grimly. "I'm willing you should be grateful for all the chance you've had to wash and scrub and take care of them Weight brats. But this ain't what I called you over for, Annie Lizzie. Say, there did some one come just now; Mr. Homer's brother!"
"I want to know!" said Annie Lizzie. In the darkness, Tommy could almost see her glow with gentle wonder and curiosity. "What is he like, Tommy? I didn't know Mr. Homer had a brother, nor any one belongin' to him nearer than Mis' Strong."
"No more did I," said Tommy. "But here he is, as like Mr. Homer as two peas, only he's a black one."
"For gracious' sake, Tommy Candy! you don't mean a colored man?"
"No, no! I mean dark-complected, with black eyes. You make an errand over to-morrow, and you'll see him. He looks to be a queer one, I tell you!"
"If he's as good as Mr. Homer," said Annie Lizzie, "I shouldn't care how queer he was."
"No more should I," cried Tommy, warmly; "but he'd have to work pretty hard to ketch up with Mr. Homer in goodness. Say, Annie Lizzie, come a mite nearer, can't you?"