stooped to pick up the
untidy parcel.

"It's right important, because it's all Peter an' me's got," said
Polly.

"Dr. Weston will take care of it for you. Now come along, because cream
puffs and pickles need something to keep them company." As they passed
through the office Josie told Dr. Weston where they were going.

"Bless my soul! I never thought of asking them if they were hungry.
Well, come back as soon as you finish and we will see what can be
done."

"If you don't mind my making a suggestion, I think the wisest thing to
do in this case would be to telephone Mary Louise and let her tackle
the board. They could hardly refuse her anything just now."

Such hungry children! First Josie ordered oatmeal and cream; then toast
and scrambled eggs; and topped it all off with pancakes and maple
syrup. She noticed that although the children were almost starving
their table manners were good.

"Gently reared!" she said to herself.

"My, but it's been a long time since--" began Polly, and then stopped
short.

"Since what?"

"Nothing! I was just--just--" The little girl faltered and was silent.

"All right, honey, don't you tell me a thing you don't want to tell
me," said Josie kindly, "but you must remember that I am your friend
and if you need me--"

"We do need you and I do want to tell you--but--but--"

"Now, Polly, you 'member what Cousin Dink said," broke in Peter, with
his mouth full of pancakes.

"Yes, and you remember what Mother said about talking with your mouth
full," admonished Polly.

"Yes, but she just said people would think we were po' whites if we had
bad manners and would blame her. An' you 'member Dink said if we talked
'bout things bad men would git us."

"Well, no bad men are going to get you while I am around, I can tell
you that," declared Josie stoutly.

"Not even p'licemen?"

"Not even policemen! They are my friends and they are your friends,
too. Their business is to look after little children."

Josie smiled her friendly smile.

"Well, Cousin Dink was skeered to death of p'licemen an' she was a
great deal bigger'n you."

"Was she really? What did she think policemen would do to her?" asked
Josie.

"Git her!"

"Your mother wasn't afraid of policemen, was she?"

"No'm, my mother was jes' 'fraid of mice an' snakes."

"Your mother isn't with you, is she?"

"No'm, she--I reckon she's dead--me'n Polly ain't quite sure. Sometimes
when we begs to go home Cousin Dink says