cap round and round in his hand, his big, brown eyes looking first at
Bettina and then at me and then at Selwyn, but to my "Come in," he
paid no attention.

Getting up, I went toward him, put my hand on his shoulder. "What is
it, Jimmy? Why don't you come in?"

"My shoes ain't fitten. I wiped them, but the mud wouldn't come
off." His eyes looked down on his feet. "I could tell you out here
if you wouldn't mind listening."

"I told him I'd take the message or call you down-stairs, but he
wouldn't let me do either one." Bettina, hands behind her, nodded in
my face. "His mother says her boarder is dying and she wants to tell
you something before she dies, and she told Jimmy he must see you
himself. Grannie's gone to prayer-meeting with Mrs. Crimm, and
afterward to see about a sick person. I'm awful sorry to interrupt
you, and if the lady hadn't been dying--"

"You're not interrupting." I drew the boy inside. Bettina came
also. From the fire to which I led him, Jimmy drew back, however,
and blew upon his stiff little fingers until it was safe to put them
closer to the blazing coals. Looking down at his feet, I saw a large
and ragged hole on the side of his right shoe from which a tiny bit
of blood was slowly oozing upon the rug.

"What's the matter with your foot, Jimmy? Have you cut it, stuck
something in it? You must take your shoe off and see what's the
matter." I pointed to the floor.