if you are dissatisfied, you can make a change." She
assumed the matter settled, and began to go into details. "Deb saw Mrs
Kelsey while you were away; she's willing enough. She says ten
shillings a week would cover everything. The drainage is all right.
Kelsey will see that he has one cow's milk. They'll feed him well, but
they won't give him rich things; she's the most careful woman. He'll be
out in the air, getting strong, all the time. He'll want hardly any
clothes in the country. Deb says he'd be better without shoes and
socks."

"I hope he'll be kept out of Miss Deborah's way, after that
exhibition--"

"Nonsense! She was too rough and ready with him. And she didn't mind a
bit--of course not. She says she likes boys to be boys. He is a
thorough boy," Mary proudly declared, bending to kiss a chubby knee.

Harry acknowledged the caress with a thumping smack of her bowed head.

"Gently--gently!" warned the father amiably.

"Now, what do you say to our walking over to interview Mrs Kelsey?"
Mary pushed her advantage home. "I daresay she will be busy, but she'd
give us a few minutes. It would be a satisfaction to her to speak to
you herself, and here is a good opportunity. They won't be home much
before two."

Guthrie fetched his straw hat. Mary retied the baby's flapping
head-gear, and they set forth.

"Let me have him," she begged, mother-like.

"No. He is too heavy for you."

The father carried the child, who loved the feel of the strong arms, in
which he jumped up and down, continuing to make play with his sturdy
little fists. Instead of striking back, Guthrie answered the baby
assaults with wild-beast roars and gestures that sent the little man
into fits of delight. Mary laughed in chorus, keeping touch with the
happy creature over the towering shoulder reared between them. It was
more than ever like a little self-contained family, taking its Sunday
stroll.

Mrs Kelsey had her Christmas dinner in hand, but came to them in her
big white apron and sleeves rolled to her dimpled elbows, smiling,
business-like, charming in her plain, reposeful, straightforward
attitude towards the visitors and their mission. No sooner had he
beheld her orderly and cheerful house, looked into her kind eyes, and
heard her sincere speech, than the young father was satisfied that he
had found a good place for his little son. The child seemed to know it
too, for when the strange woman drew him to her broad lap--calmly, as
if us