Mistress Allen's eyes were fixed dreamily on the oleander-tree, but her mouth was tremulous with intent interest.
"Did thee say that thy guardian was frequently impoverished himself, by reason of his gifts to the poor?" she asked. "That is like the boy I knew forty years ago."
"Why, no, I can't exactly say he 's impoverished, because he 's got heaps of money, you know," replied Jim; "but he 's so full of other people's troubles and needs that he don't remember his own, and he goes pretty seedy half the time, bless his old heart! He 's the biggest brick of a guardian a fellow ever had. I know just as well, Mrs. Allen, that he 'll be only too glad to have me adopt Ally for my sister, and take care of her all the rest of my life, as if I 'd asked him; and it will only take four days to hear from him; I sent a letter this morning. You 'll very soon see that it is all right."
"In the mean time, the little girl would be better off with us than in that wretched place where she is now," said Mrs. Allen. "Mrs. Bunker is a kindly woman, but there are sights and sounds there which the child should know nothing of. Thee had better bring her over this afternoon, that is," she added, turning to me, "if thy friend will share thy room for a few days, and give up to the child the one we had prepared for him. We have not had need for many rooms, and have had no
