Elnora stared piteously at Margaret, then at Wesley, and arose in white-faced bewilderment.

“Billy, are you going to leave without even saying good-bye to me?” asked Wesley, with a gulp.

Billy held tight to Mrs. Comstock and Elnora.

“Good-bye!” he said casually.  “I’ll come and see you some time.”

Wesley Sinton gave a smothered sob, and strode from the room.

Mrs. Comstock started toward the door, dragging at Billy while Elnora pulled back, but Mrs. Sinton was before them, her eyes flashing.

“Kate Comstock, you think you are mighty smart, don’t you?” she cried.

“I ain’t in the lunatic asylum, where you belong, anyway,” said Mrs. Comstock.  “I am smart enough to tell a dandy boy when I see him, and I’m good and glad to get him.  I’ll love to have him!”

“Well, you won’t have him!” exclaimed Margaret Sinton.  “That boy is Wesley’s!  He found him, and brought him here.  You can’t come in and take him like that!  Let go of him!”

“Not much, I won’t!” cried Mrs. Comstock.  “Leave the poor sick little soul here for you to beat, because he didn’t know just how to handle things!  Of course, he’ll make mistakes.  He must have a lot of teaching, but not the kind he’ll get from you!  Clear out of my way!”

“You let go of our boy,” ordered Margaret.

“Why?  Do you want to whip him, before he can go to sleep?” jeered Mrs. Comstock.

“No, I don’t!” said Margaret.  “He’s Wesley’s, and nobody shall touch him.  Wesley!”

Wesley Sinton appeared behind Margaret in the doorway, and she turned to him.  “Make Kate Comstock let go of our boy!” she demanded.

“Billy, she wants you now,” said Wesley Sinton.  “She won’t whip you, and she won’t let any one else.  You can have stacks of good things to eat, ride in the carriage, and have a great time.  Won’t you stay with us?”

Billy drew away from Mrs. Comstock and Elnora.

He faced Margaret, his eyes shrewd with unchildish wisdom.  Necessity had taught him to strike the hot iron, to drive the hard bargain.

“Can I have Snap to live here always?” he demanded.

“Yes, you can have all the dogs you want,” said Margaret Sinton.

“Can I sleep close enough so’s I can touch you?”

“Yes, you can move your lounge up so that you can hold my hand,” said Margaret.

“Do you love me now?” questioned Billy.

“I’ll try to love you, if you are a good boy,” said Margaret.

“Then I guess I’ll stay,” said Billy, walking over to her.

Out in the night Elnora and her mother went down the road in the moonlight; every few rods Mrs. Comstock laughed aloud.

“Mother, I don’t understand you,” sobbed Elnora.

“Well, maybe when you have gone to high school longer you will,” said Mrs. Comstock.  “Anyway, you saw me bring Mag Sinton to her senses, didn’t you?”