been interrupted by the odious voice of Jane.

"Will--ee!"

To William, in his high and lonely mood, this piercing summons brought
an actual shudder, and the very thought of Jane (with tokens of apple
sauce and sugar still upon her cheek, probably) seemed a kind of
sacrilege. He fiercely swore his favorite oath, acquired from the hero
of a work of fiction he admired, "Ye gods!" and concealed his poem in
the drawer of the writing-table, for Jane's footsteps were approaching
his door.

"Will--ee! Mamma wants you." She tried the handle of the door.

"G'way!" he said.

"Will--ee!" Jane hammered upon the door with her fist. "Will--ee!"

"What you want?" he shouted.

Jane explained, certain pauses indicating that her attention was
partially diverted to another slice of bread-and-butter and apple sauce
and sugar. "Will--ee, mamma wants you--wants you to go help Genesis
bring some wash-tubs home and a tin clo'es-boiler--from the second-hand
man's store."

"WHAT!"

Jane repeated the outrageous message, adding, "She wants you to
hurry--and I got some more bread-and-butter and apple sauce and sugar