to get us the baby."

"Yes," said Jimmy, "and what do you suppose my friends would say if they
were to see me riding around town with the wash-lady's daughter and a
baby on my lap? What would YOU say?" he asked Aggie, "if you didn't know
the facts?"

"Nobody's going to see you," answered Aggie impatiently; "it's only
around the corner. Go on, Jimmy, be a good boy."

"You mean a good thing," retorted Jimmy without budging from the spot.

"How ridiculous!" exclaimed Zoie; "it's as easy as can be."

"Yes, the FIRST one SOUNDED easy, too," said Jimmy.

"All you have to do," explained Zoie, trying to restrain her rising
intolerance of his stupidity, "is to give this note to Maggie's mother.
She'll give you her baby, you bring it back here, we'll give you THIS
one, and you can take it right back to the Home."

"And meet the other mother," concluded Jimmy with a shake of his head.

There was a distinct threat in Zoie's voice when she again addressed the
stubborn Jimmy and the glitter of triumph was in her eyes.

"You'd better meet here THERE than HERE," she warned him; "you know what
the Superintendent said."

"That's true," agreed Aggie with an anxious face. "Come now," she
pleaded, "it will only take a minute; you can do the whole thing before
you have had time to think."

"Before I have had time to think," repeated Jimmy excitedly. "That's how
you get me to do everything. Well, this time I've HAD time to think and
I don't think I will!" and with that he threw himself upon the couch,
unmindful of the damage to the freshly laundered clothes.

"Get up," cried Zoie.

"You haven't time to sit down," said Aggie.

"I'll TAKE time," declared Jimmy. His eyes blinked ominously and he
remained glued to the couch.

There was a short silence; the two women gazed at Jimmy in despair.
Remembering a fresh grievance, Jimmy turned upon them.

"By the way," he said, "do you two know that I haven't had anything to
eat yet?"

"And do you know," said Zoie, "that Alfred may be back at any minute? He
can't stay away forever."

"Not unless he has cut his throat," rejoined Jimmy, "and that's what I'd
do if I had a razor."

Zoie regarded Jimmy as though he were beyond redemption. "Can't you ever
think of anybody but yourself?" she asked, with a martyred air.

Had Jimmy been half his age, Aggie would have felt sure that she saw him
make a face at her friend for answer. As it was, she resolved to make
one last effort to awaken