ead it
over the child's face as a protection from the flies. She came back
into the kitchen. The idiot boy came in and rolled about the floor
muttering and whining.

"And how's Mr. Perkins?" asked Madame. "Is he keeping well?" It was
her gentle way of asking if he was keeping sober. The woman's tired
face lit up.

"Yes, ma'am. 'E is that. 'E's been keepin' fine since three weeks
come Sunday. That was the night Old Angus took 'im to the Harmy an'
got 'im saved. An' 'e's ben keepin' nicely saved ever since. We've
been 'avin' butter," she added proudly. "Ever since 'e got 'imself
converted. But we 'ad to 'ave the doctor for pore Minnie." Her thin
little face quivered. "If Minnie'd only get better now, we'd be
gettin' a good start, an' we'd all be 'appy."

"Mr. Perkins has work now, hasn't he?" said Madame comfortingly.

"Yes'm. It's not steady, but Old Angus 'e's goin' to get 'im another
job. It's ben rather 'ard on my man," she added apologetically, "just
a comin' out from the hold country. It's 'ard gettin' work at first.
An' I wan't much use with 'im a comin'," she added, touching the bundle
reverently.

"So this is the only Canadian baby you have," said Madame.

"Yes'm." The mother forgot her troubles and smiled and fawned on the
bundle in delight.

"He's Johny Canuck, isn't he?" asked Madame, with a feeble attempt at
gaiety.

"Oh, no, ma'am," cried the mother hastily. "'E's William 'Enery, after
'is paw. We ain't got 'im christened yet. But jist as soon's I can
get 'im a dress the pawson,--'e's a foine man,--'e says 'e'll come an'
do 'im, an' if my man jist keeps nicely saved, we'll be gettin' a
dress. But it's been 'ard on my man. Eddie there 'e's not much 'elp,
poor lad. But 'e goes out on the railroad track an' picks me up a bit
o' coal. An' Old Angus 'e's been that good. Oh, we'd never a' got on
without Old Angus. But if my Minnie 'adn't took sick--"

She wiped a tear on the baby's dirty dress. It was the quiet,
dispassionate tear of a woman long accustomed to hardship. "I'll be
all right when I get a bit stronger an' can work," she added hopefully.

The visitors rose to go. Madame held the woman's hand a long time,
trying to explain, as though to a little child, how the sick girl must
be treated. The case seemed so pitiful she was at a loss what to say.
"I'm afraid I can't get back for a few days, Mrs. Perkins," she said.

"I'll come and see Minnie to-morrow," said Hel