X.
Next morning Kate set out to church for her churching. Her household duties had lost their interest by this time, and she left Nancy to cook the dinner. Pete had volunteered to take charge of the child. This he began to do by establishing himself with his pipe in an armchair by the cradle, and looking steadfastly down into it until the little one awoke. Then he rocked it, rummaged his memory for a nursery song to quiet it, and smoked and sang together.
“A frog he would a-wooing go,
Kitty alone, Kitty alone,
(Puff, puff.)
A wonderful likely sort of a beau,
Kitty alone and I!”
(Puff, puff, puff.)
The sun was shining in at the doorway, and a man's shadow fell across the cradle-head. It was Philip. Pete put his mouth out into the form of an unspoken “Hush,” and Philip sat down in silence, while Pete went on with his smoke and his song.
“But when her husband rat came home,
Kitty alone, Kitty alone,
Pray who's been here since I've been gone?
Kitty alone and I!” (Puff, Puff)
Pete had got to the middle of the verse about “the worthy gentleman,” when the low whine in the cradle lengthened to a long breath and stopped.
“Gone off at last, God bless it,” said Pete. “And how's yourself, Philip? And how goes the petition?”
With his head on his hand, Philip was gazing absently into the fire, and he did not hear.
“How goes the petition?” said Pete.