“Nan wanted to pay you a visit and I thought I’d just look in myself and see that you were all right. You are better, aren’t you, much better? You have a very good color now. Perhaps you’ll be hungry enough to eat some supper after a while.”
“Yes’m, I’m awfully hungry now. Is it almost supper time?”
“Not for an hour. What would you like? Was the chicken broth good?”
“Yes’m, but I think I’d rather have some meat and potatoes and a cup of cocoa and some toast and preserves and a piece of cake.” Kid paused. Then, “or two,” he added.
Mrs. Merton smiled. “I’m afraid you can’t have all those things,” she replied, “but perhaps a chop and a baked potato—just a small one—won’t hurt you if you’re so hungry. And you seem to be!”
“Yes’m, I guess it was the walk——” Kid almost bit his tongue trying to stop.
“Walk?” echoed Mrs. Merton with a laugh. “I guess you’ve been dreaming, James.”
“Yes’m, I think I have,” responded Kid with gusto. “I—I dreamed I was walking on the railroad and a train came along—” But he stopped again. Maybe he had better not overdo it. “And—and that’s all I remember,” he added.
Mrs. Merton and Nan laughed.
“Well, I’ll see that your supper is hearty enough to satisfy that hunger, James. Shall I leave Nan here a few minutes? Or would you rather sleep again?”