steps further, walking as if she expected to have a badge pinned on
her, or to receive a prize. She had a double chin; and when she began
to speak, which she did a moment later, it developed that she had a
deep baritone voice.

Her first words were: "Away with you!"

They were for the little black dog, who had rushed toward her with
swaying tail.

Then she saw her son and Everychild. _She sniffed as if there were a
fire somewhere as she said to her son, "And who is this, pray?"_

[Illustration: She sniffed as if there were a fire somewhere.]

Everychild would have felt almost alarmed but for the fact that
something extraordinary occurred just then. The Masked Lady entered
the room and stood just inside the door. Still more remarkable, Mr.
Literal appeared just behind her.

"This," replied Tom to his mother, "is--is a boy who came home with me."

"Is it, indeed!" exclaimed Old Mother Hubbard icily. She added, "What
I meant to inquire was. What is his name?"

Tom was blushing. "His name is Everychild, mother," he said, "and
he's----"

Old Mother Hubbard had removed her bonnet, which was a little affair of
black velvet and jet ornaments. She touched her hair with her finger