e little, old-fashioned thing," murmured Amy. "It isn't right,
Jess."

Jessie understood and nodded. She was glad that Amy showed a certain
amount of sympathy for Henrietta and appreciation of her. In a few
moments the child was utterly relaxed and Henrietta got up and
staggered over to the soap-box on wheels and laid the sleeper down
upon a pillow.

"He ought to sleep an hour," said little Henrietta, covering Billy
Foley carefully so that the flies could not bite his fat, red legs. "I
ain't got nothing to do now but to sweep out the house, wash the
dishes in the sink, clean the clinkers out of the stove, hang out a
line for clothes, and make the beds before Mrs. Foley and the baby get
back. I can talk to you girls while I'm doing them things."

"Landy's sake!" gasped Amy, horrified.

But Jessie determined to take matters in her own hands for the time
being, Mrs. Foley not being present. She immediately unrolled the
bundle of things she had brought, and Henrietta halted on the step of
the house, poised as though for flight, her pale eyes gradually
growing rounder and rounder.

"Them ain't for _me_?"

"If they fit you, or can be made to fit you, honey," said Jessie.

"Oh, the poor child!" exclaimed Amy softly, taking care that Henrietta
should not hear her.

"Silk!" murmured Henrietta, and sat down on the step again, put her
arms out widely and squeezed the silk dress up to her flat little
body as though the garment was another baby.

"Silk!" repeated the poor little thing. "Miss Jessie! How good you are
to me! I never did have a thing made of silk before, 'cepting a
hair-ribbon. And I never had any too many of them."

CHAPTER XXIII

DARRY'S BIG IDEA

When Mrs. Foley and the baby arrived home there stood upon the
platform at the back door of the house a most amazing figure. She knew
every child in Dogtown, and none of them had ever made such an
appearance. She almost dropped the baby through amazement.

"For love of John Thomas McGuire!" burst forth the "bulgy" woman,
finally finding her voice. "What's happened to that child? Is it an
angel she's turned into? Or is she an heiress, I dunno? Hen Haney!
what's the meaning of this parade? And have you washed the dishes like
I told you?"

"You must forgive her, Mrs. Foley," Jessie said, coming down to meet
the woman and taking the baby from her. "Go and see and speak to the
child," she whispered. "She is so delighted that she has not been able
to t