chance. I know yous don't want a wife, but yer shouldn't 'inder others
as do."

"Yer talkin' through yer neck," cried Jonah, losing his temper.

"Suppose I tell yer that the kid's done the trick, an' I want ter git
married, an' bring 'im up respectable?"

The old woman was silent, but a wonderful smile lit up her face.

"Yer've got a lot ter say about the feelin's. Suppose I tell yer there's
somethin' in me trembles w'en I touch this kid? I felt like a damned fool
at first, but I'm gittin' used to it."

"That's yer own flesh an' blood a-callin' yer, Joe," cried Mrs Yabsley,
in ecstasy--"the sweetest cry on Gawd's earth, for it goes to yer
very marrer."

"That's true," said Jonah, sadly; "an' 'e's the only relation I've got in
the wide world, as far as I know. More than that, 'e's the only livin'
creature that looks at me without seein' my hump."

It was the first time in Mrs Yabsley's memory that Jonah had mentioned his
deformity. A tremor in his voice made her look at him sharply. Tears
stood in his eyes. With a sudden impulse she stopped and patted his head.

"That's all right, Joe," she said, gently. "I was only pullin' yer leg.
I wanted yer to do the straight thing by Ada, but I wasn't sure yer'd got
a 'eart, till the kid found it. But wot will the Push say w'en ..."