she just stands at the window and takes a bite of something now
'and then. You haven't got any mother, have you?"

"No, Rodman."

"Neither have I, nor any father, nor any relations but Aunt
Boynton and Ivory. Ivory is very good to me, and when he's at
home I'm never lonesome."

"I wish you could come over and eat with sister and me," said
Patty gently." Perhaps sometime, when my father is away buying
goods and we are left alone, you could join us in the woods, and
we would have a picnic? We would bring enough for you; all sorts
of good things; hard-boiled eggs, doughnuts, apple-turnovers, and
bread spread with jelly."

"I'd like it fine!" exclaimed Rodman, his big dark eyes sparkling
with anticipation. "I don't have many boys to play with, and I
never went to a picnic Aunt Boynton watches for uncle 'most all
the time; she doesn't know he has been away for years and years.
When she doesn't watch, she prays. Sometimes she wants me to pray
with her, but praying don't come easy to me."

"Neither does it to me," said Patty.

"I'm good at marbles and checkers and back-gammon and
jack-straws, though."

"So am I," said Patty, laughing, "so we should be good friends.
I'll try to get a chance to see you soon again, but perhaps I