ain't got none to ask."

"Sure and you haven't, you blessed boy," said Mother 'Larkey. "If I had
it to give, you wouldn't need a mother to ask it of. I wish I could send
all of you to the circus and go myself."

"We never get to go no place," muttered Danny gloomily.

"It costs money to go to places," his mother explained, "and there's no
money in the house. It's all I've been able to do to put enough food in
your hungry mouths to keep soul and body together and to get enough
clothes to keep you looking decent and respectable. I was counting on
some money from Mrs. Green to-day, to buy a little meat for supper and
get some more cough medicine for Kathleen, but she wasn't satisfied with
the dress and I've got to do part of it over before she will pay me."

"Is Kathleen's cough medicine all gone?" Jerry asked, suddenly feeling
hot and uncomfortable.

"Yes, and she ought to have some more right this minute. Summer coughs
are bad things for babies."

Jerry went to Kathleen and she welcomed him by raising her arms and
gurgling at him. He put his face gently against hers and she patted his
head and tugged at his hair.

And all the time Jerry felt guiltier and guiltier and the half-dollar in
his pocket seemed to become bigger and heavier. He was relieved when he
heard Celia Jane, recovered from her crying, asking: