s Milly watch the baby while she made things fast around the
house. Beth women had been hanging over the sleeping child with
something like awe. "Poor little mite--like as not right this minit
Sarah Hopkins is watchin' us," B'lindy had whispered, "little bit of a
thing, goin' to grow into a big, big man some day! Ain't it just
_wonderful_, Milly Leavitt?"

Milly's awe of the baby had been mixed with alarm at the increasing
intensity of the storm. So that, as B'lindy moved to go, she held out
an imploring hand.

"Now you just hold yourself together, Milly Leavitt--that storm ain't
goin' to hurt you! Anyways, it's lots more likely to if I don't see
that everything's shut up tight, so's the lightnin' can't get in!
_Ouch!_" Even B'lindy covered her eyes from a blinding flash. "You
hold on to that baby, Milly Leavitt," she commanded, bolting from the
room.

But with each flash, each roar of thunder, poor Miss Milly's courage
ebbed. Her cry--rising above, the noise of the storm brought Miss
Sabrina and B'lindy to her.

"I can't--help--it!" she sobbed, covering her face. "It's so--so
dreadful! And where's--Nancy! Oh--oh!"

Even Miss Sabrina's face was pale with alarm.

"You two women are like so many children," cried B'lindy, taking
command. "Milly Leavitt, you'll work yourself into fits. Nancy's all
right somewheres! I guess Peter Hyde's man enough to take care of
her--mebbe they ain't where this storm is, anyways! Sabrina--you take
that baby where Milly's yellin' won't wake it. Goodness knows the
crashin's bad enough! Now Milly, you just hide your poor head in my
lap," with grand tenderness, "_I_ ain't afraid a bit."

Sabrina had no choice--B'lindy had put the baby into her arms and
almost shoved her to the door.

She carried it to her own room and sat down very carefully. Never in
her whole life had she held a little baby. What would she do if it
wakened suddenly? And if it kicked and squirmed, might she not drop it?

But the baby did not kick or squirm--he felt very comfortable in Miss
Sabrina's arms--he snuggled ever so gently a little closer, turned his
face toward the warmth of her embrace, and throwing up one little arm,
laid it against her throat. The warm, soft baby fingers burned against
Sabrina's throbbing pulse--the little spark crept down, down to her
old, cold heart and kindled something there--something that swept her
whole being. Cautiously she held the baby closer, pressed it