the wage-cut, and joined with her in welcoming the little one.

"What'll we do? Go to the theater to celebrate?" he asked,
relaxing the pressure of his embrace so that she might speak. "Or
suppose we stay in, just you and me, and . . . and the three of
us?"

"Stay in," was her verdict. "I just want you to hold me, and hold
me, and hold me."

"That's what I wanted, too, only I wasn't sure, after bein' in
the house all day, maybe you'd want to go out."

There was frost in the air, and Billy brought the Morris chair in
by the kitchen stove. She lay cuddled in his arms, her head on
his shoulder, his cheek against her hair.

"We didn't make no mistake in our lightning marriage with only a
week's courtin'," he reflected aloud. "Why, Saxon, we've been
courtin' ever since just the same. And now . . . my God, Saxon,
it's too wonderful to be true. Think of it! Ourn! The three of
us! The little rascal! I bet he's goin' to be a boy. An' won't I
learn 'm to put up his fists an' take care of himself! An'
swimmin' too. If he don't know how to swim by the time he's
six . . ."

"And if HE'S a girl?"

"SHE'S goin' to be a boy," Billy retorted, joining in the playful
misuse of pronouns.