A dingy little girl answered the knock. “How-~
do-you-do,” said Budd. “Is this the place where
Mrs. Harry Woods lives?”

“Yes, sir,” politely said the little girl, eying
the basket.

“Ina,” said a voice, “ask them in.” A tired-~
looking but pleasant-faced woman came from
some room beyond, laid a baby upon a large
double bed that stood in one corner, and came
toward the door. She made a gesture toward
a pail of suds that stood near the stove. A tub
balanced upon an upturned chair; and a mop
was in the pail. “I'm sorry that we aren't cleaned
up, and so late in the afternoon; but the baby
was cross. His teeth bother him.”

Budd looked at Betty and stepped back be-
hind her, uncertain whether the plan included
entering the place or not. Betty, smiling, said,
“Oh, that's quite all right. There is always
so much cleaning to do with a family. Miss
Hogarth told us where you lived, but we'll not
come in; we just brought you a little present,
a reminder of Thanksgiving, you know.”

Tears came into the eyes of the woman. “Miss
Hogarth -- may God bless her! She was here
once.”

Budd was lifting the basket, preparatory to
setting it within the room, when a clatter of

[[63]]

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