He's such a nice man! 'Twould be a lovely
home for a child."
"But goodness!" said the teacher. "Nobody would want to adopt such an
awful-looking little ragamuffin as that 'Lias. He looks so meeching,
too. I guess his stepfather is real mean to him, when he's been
drinking, and it's got 'Lias so he hardly dares hold his head up."
The clock struck loudly. "Well, hear that!" said Cousin Ann. "Nine
o'clock and the children not in bed! Molly's most asleep this minute.
Trot along with you, Betsy! Trot along, Molly. And, Betsy, be sure
Molly's nightgown is buttoned up all the way."
So it happened that, although the grown-ups were evidently going on to
talk about 'Lias Brewster, Betsy heard no more of what they said.
She herself went on thinking about 'Lias while she was undressing and
answering absently little Molly's chatter. She was thinking about him
even after they had gone to bed, had put the light out, and were lying
snuggled up to each other, back to front, their four legs, crooked at
the same angle, fitting in together neatly like two spoons in a drawer.
She was thinking about him when she woke up, and as soon as she could
get hold of Cousin Ann she poured out a new plan. She had never been
afraid of Cousin Ann since the evening Molly had fallen into the Wolf
Pit and Betsy had seen that pleased smile on Cousin Ann's firm lips.
"Cousin Ann, couldn't we girls at school get together and sew--you'd
have to help us some--and make some nice, new clothes for little 'Lias
Brewster, and fix him up so he'll look better, and maybe that Mr.
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