ith a happy smile on
her face while baby picked the last morsels out of the porringer with
her own busy fingers.

It certainly had ended well, for Phebe at the end of six months not only
had a good place as choir singer but several young pupils and excellent
prospects for the next winter.

"Accept the blessing of a poor young man, Whose lucky steps have led him
to your door, and let me help as much as I can. Good-bye, my Dulcinea."

And, with a farewell stroke of the smooth head, Mac went away to report
his success to his mother, who, in spite of her seeming harshness, was
already planning how she could best befriend this inconvenient baby.

Chapter 17 AMONG THE HAYCOCKS

Uncle Alec did not object and, finding that no one had any claim upon
the child, permitted Rose to keep it for a time at least. So little
Dulce, newly equipped even to a name, took her place among them and
slowly began to thrive. But she did not grow pretty and never was a gay,
attractive child, for she seemed to have been born in sorrow and brought
up in misery. A pale, pensive little creature, always creeping into
corners and looking timidly out, as if asking leave to live, and, when
offered playthings, taking them with a meek surprise that was very
touching.

Rose soon won her heart, and then almost wished she had not, for baby
clung to her with inconvenient fondness, changing her former wail of
"Marmar" into a lament for "Aunty Wose" if separated long. Nevertheless,
there was great satisfaction in cherishing the little waif, for she
learned more than she could teach and felt a sense of responsibility
which was excellent ballast for her enthusiastic nature.

Kitty Van, who made Rose her model in all things, was immediately
inspired to go and do likewise, to the great amusement as well as
annoyance of her family. Selecting the prettiest, liveliest child in
the Asylum, she took it home on trial for a week. "A perfect cherub" she
pronounced it the first day, but an "enfant terrible" before the week
was over, for the young hero rioted by day, howled by night, ravaged the
house from top to bottom, and kept his guardians in a series of panics
by his hairbreadth escapes. So early on Saturday, poor exhausted Kitty
restored the "cherub" with many thanks, and decided to wait until her
views of education were rather more advanced.

As the warm weather came on, Rose announced that Dulce needed mountain
air, for she dutifully repeated as many of D