could read, made her ask him what he had had for dinner. He said he
had had no dinner.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because there wasn't any."

"Didn't your mother keep some for you?"

"No; she couldn't."

"Then what will you do?"

"Go without," answered Clare with a smile.

"But you've got a mother?" said the girl, rendered doubtful by his
smile.

"Oh, yes! I've got two mothers. But their arms ain't long enough,"
replied Clare.

The girl wondered: was he an idiot, or what they called a poet?
Anyhow, she had a bun in her pocket, which she had meant to eat at
five o'clock, and she offered him that.

"But what will you do yourself? Have you another?" asked Clare,
unready to take it.

"No," she answered; "why shouldn't I go without as well as you?"