"'It isn't by, is it?' Chris says, anxious. 'To-day didn't stop yet, did it?'
"'Not yet,' she reassures him. 'Now is still now.'
"'I want to-day to keep being now,' Chris said, 'because when it stops, then the bed is right there. It don't be anywhere near to-night, is it?' he says.
"'Not very near,' Robin told him. 'Well, then, what are you doing to-day?' she asks.
"'I'm to the house's party,' he explained. 'The house is having its party. An' I'm to it.'
"'Do you like this house, dear?' Robin asked.
"'It's nice,' he affirmed. 'In the night it—it talks wiv its lights. I saw it. With my daddy. When I was off on a big road.' Chris looked at her intent, from way in his eyes. 'I was thinkin' if my daddy would come,' he says, patient.
"Robin stoops over to him, quick, and he let her. He'd took a most tremendous fancy to her, the little fellow had, and didn't want her long out of his sight. 'Is that Robin?' he always said, when he heard anybody coming from any direction. She give him a macaroon, now, for each hand, and he run away with the puppy. And then she turned to Alex, her face bright with whatever she was thinking about.
"'Alex,' she says, 'he's a dear little fellow—a dear little fellow. And all alone. I've wanted so much to ask you: Can't we have him for ours?'