Heawokenextmorningfromrosyscenesofdreamtoasteamyatmospherethatsmelledofsoapsudsanddirtyclothes, , asharpexclamation, , theveryairhebreathed, , hethought, , andmeanlymaterial.

"Comehere, Alfred," hecalledtothecryingchild, atthesametimethrustinghishandintohistrouserspocket, 'shandandheldhiminhisarmsamoment, soothinghissobs."Nowrunalongandgetsomecandy, anddon'."

Hissisterliftedaflushedfacefromthewash-tubandlookedathim.

"Anickel'dha' benenough," shesaid."It'sjustlikeyou, 'lleathimselfsick."

"That'sallright, sis," heansweredjovially."Mymoney''tsobusy, I'dkissyougoodmorning."

Hewantedtobeaffectionatetothissister, whowasgood, andwho, inherway, heknew, , somehow, shegrewlessherselfastheyearswentby, , themanychildren, andthenaggingofherhusband, hedecided, , inaflashoffancy, thathernatureseemedtakingontheattributesofstalevegetables, smellysoapsuds, andofthegreasydimes, nickels, andquartersshetookinoverthecounterofthestore.

"Goalongan' getyourbreakfast," shesaidroughly, ."IdeclareIwillkissyou," shesaid, withasuddenstiratherheart.

—, butnotbeforehecaughtaglimpseofhermoisteyes.

"You'llfindbreakfastintheoven," shesaidhurriedly."'tbeniceto-day, whatofTomquittin' an' nobodybutBernardtodrivethewagon."