"I supposed it would take you even longer than this to fix things decent
again. As for my turkey, and my poor little kittens, they don't matter."
"I am mighty sorry about them, Margaret, you know that. Billy is very
bright, and he will soon learn----"
"Soon learn!" cried Margaret. "Wesley Sinton, you don't mean to say that
you think of keeping that creature here for some time?"
"No, I think of keeping a well-behaved little boy."
Margaret set the supper on the table. Seeing the old red cloth Wesley
stared in amazement. Then he understood. Billy capered around in
delight.
"Ain't that pretty?" he exulted. "I wish Jimmy and Belle could see. We,
why we ist eat out of our hands or off a old dry goods box, and when we
fix up a lot, we have newspaper. We ain't ever had a nice red cloth like
this."
Wesley looked straight at Margaret, so intently that she turned away,
her face flushing. He stacked the dictionary and the geography of
the world on a chair, and lifted Billy beside him. He heaped a plate
generously, cut the food, put a fork into Billy's little fist, and made
him eat slowly and properly. Billy did his best. Occasionally greed
overcame him, and he used his left hand to pop a bite into his mouth
with his fingers. These lapses Wesley patiently overlooked, and went on
with his general instructions. Luckily Billy did not spill anything
on his clothing or the cloth. After supper Wesley took him to the barn
while he finished the night work.
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