His eye then fell on a little marble slab under a tree in a shady corner
of the orchard.

"That's a country doorplate," he thought; "yes, it's got the lady's
name, 'Martha Cummins,' printed on it. Now I'll know what to call her."

He crept softly on to the front side of the house. There were flower
beds, a lovable white cat snoozing on the doorsteps, and--a lady sitting
at the open window knitting!

At this vision Timothy's heart beat so hard against his little jacket
that he could only stagger back to the basket, where Rags and Lady Gay
were snuggled together, fast asleep. He anxiously scanned Gay's face;
moistened his rag of a handkerchief at the only available source of
supply; scrubbed an atrocious dirt spot from the tip of her spirited
nose; and then, dragging the basket along the path leading to the front
gate, he opened it and went in, mounted the steps, plied the brass
knocker, and waited in childlike faith for a summons to enter and make
himself at home.




SCENE V.

_The White Farm. Afternoon._

TIMOTHY FINDS A HOUSE IN WHICH HE THINKS A BABY IS NEEDED, BUT THE
INMATES DO NOT ENTIRELY AGREE WITH HIM.