"Well, we agree to put the job up this way. We'll take the child
and you'll give us a paper or writin' makin' over all your right
and title. How's that?"
Without knowing exactly why he did, Mr. North objected decidedly.
"Do you think we won't take good care of it?" asked Miss Bessy,
sharply.
"That is not the question," said North, a little hotly. "In the
first place, the child is not mine to give. It has fallen into my
hands as a trust,--the first hands that received it from its
parents. I do not think it right to allow any other hands to come
between theirs and mine."
Miss Bessy left the window. In another moment she appeared from
the house, and, walking directly towards North, held out a somewhat
substantial hand. "Good!" she said, as she gave his fingers an
honest squeeze. "You ain't so looney after all. Dad, he's right!
He shan't gin it up, but we'll go halves in it, he and me. He'll
be father and I'll be mother 'til death do us part, or the reg'lar
family turns up. Well--what do you say?"
More pleased than he dared confess to himself with the praise of
this common girl, Mr.
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