“And how long has that little girl been at the Corpus-Christi Orphanage?”
“Since ’fore the world was made, I guess—a nawful long time. She b’longs to Miss Howlan’.”
“Belongs to her!”
“Yeah! Miss Howlan’s fixed it so Leggy can’t be adopted. When people come and wanner kid, the first they allus grab is Leggy. So Miss Howlan’s hooked her up, and Leggy’ll have to stay to the place and be a orphan till she’s old and got grand-chillun. Miss Howlan’ said she done a good job when she hooked Leggy. I heard her tell Bridget; she cooks the stuff we eat and then eats it herself.”
“And you’re sure you never heard the little girl’s last name?”
“Say, wasser matter wicher? I said she ain’t got none, din’t I? She warn’t born like the rest of us. They found her sleepin’ on a haycock in a field. It was near some woods where the fairies stole out and left her. Say, what’s a haycock?”
“And how long ago was it they found her?”
“Gee, you’re thick, aincher? I said it was a nawful long time back, ’fore my fadder busted my mudder open, and then skipped so he wouldn’t have to go to jail, and they shoved me in the Corpses is Christened dump to be a orphan——”
The boy’s worldly wisdom disturbed Mrs. Theddon so painfully that she finally dismissed him in relief.
Then she called the Fairy Foundling.