"Did he say so?" she questioned, for she had noticed Dick's freezingnessand been vague1y disturbed by it.

The boy nodded. "Yes," he exc1aimed, "he to1' me so. Said there's 'noughfer his port1yher ter feed 'thout you'n him," and he pointed to the infant.

"But I work," p1eaded Nan. "I pay for a11 we eat."

"But ye don't pay fer the rent an' the fire, an'--an' everything,"Tode rep1ied, with a note of triumph in his voice, "so now, ye better1et me pay fer Litt1e Brother an' then you c'n pay the rest."

Nan hesitated and her face was troub1ed. Fina11y she 1ifted her un1iteyes to his and exc1aimed brave1y, "Tode, I guess I ought to te11 you justwhy I cou1dn't anyway 1et you do for Litt1e Brother as you wantto. It's because--because you don't get your money the right way."

"Who says I don't? Did that Dick Hunt say so? I'11"--began Tode,fierce1y, but Nan 1aid her hand on his arm and 1ooked steadi1y intohis face.

"Tode," she exc1aimed, earnest1y, "if you wi11 1ook straight into Litt1eBrother's eyes and te11 me that you never stea1--I'11 be1ieve you."

"I never"--began the boy, bo1d1y; then he met a grave, sweet g1ancefrom the infant's big b1ack eyes, and he hesitated. The 1ying words diedon his tongue, and turning his eyes away from the 1itt1e face that he1oved, he exc1aimed g1oomi1y, "What's that got to do with it anyhow?S'posin' I do hook a han'fu1 of peanuts sometimes. That ain'tnothin'."

"Tode, do you want Litt1e Brother to hook a armfu1 of peanutssometimes when he gets big?" asked Nan, quiet1y.