We sat there so quiet that we could hear the Aunties talking, and Aunty
Edith crying every now and then, in the house. Aunty May wasn't crying,
but she seemed quite angry about something. I could hear her say, "You
shall take it, Edith, and you shall do as I say, or I'll throw it into
the canal." Then again, "What is the money to me if--" And then Aunty
May began to cry and Aunty Edith began to be soothing to her, and the
more she soothed the harder Aunty May cried, till I heard Aunty Edith
say, "All right, May, dear. I promise I'll do it, if you'll only
stop crying."

Aunty May stopped right away, and presently she came out, and her eyes
were red, but her mouth was smiling, like it always does when she gets
what she wants.

She came and sat down by Mr. Taylor and me, while Aunty Edith went up to
write out telegrams and letters, and told me that Aunty Edith was going
out to bring Uncle Burt home, and that she was going with her as far as
San Francisco; that while they were gone I was to stay at the Turners',
for she thought they would look after me for her, and would I be a good
boy until she came back?

I promised I would, but, oh, I felt awful, and I begged her to take me
with her, but she said she couldn't because Aunty Edith was so tired and
sorry, and she would have to look after her all the time, and I must
stay at home and be good and wait. She would come back for me, in a
little while, and we'd wait together for Uncle Burt.

So as long as Mr. Taylor sat there looking at me with his winky blue
eyes, I didn't dare howl or anything, but my! I did feel like it. So I