lonely, but she managed to dispel that idea. They left her to her own
devices during the day, but at night, when Billy was in bed, Mrs. Biggs
would come to sit with Jane for a talk. She was a cheerful, philosophic
sort of person. Jane liked to hear her ideas. Both she and Billy adored
Jerry. They asked for daily news of him, and looked forward to his
return.

"My! but wasn't you in luck to pick up a husband like Mr. Paxton?" she
said, over and over.

"Yes, I was," Jane would admit.

"When I think of you, settin' alone, night after night in that white
room, which never was cheerful to my thinkin', and now bein' the
mistress of this grand, swell place; it's like one of them fairy-book
stories."

"It is strange, isn't it, Mrs. Biggs?"

"There's nobody gladder fer you than me. Billy and me has had a grand
time out here this summer."

"You've made it so comfortable for us, and we've enjoyed having you."

"Are you goin' to stay a long time in that hospital where you're going?"

"No, only a week or so."

"What is that thing you're going to have?"

"Twilight Sleep."

"I never heard tell of that before."

"No, it is rather new with us, Mrs. Biggs."

"The poor will never get it; it's just for the rich, I guess."

"On the contrary, the East Side Jewish Maternity Hospital experimented
with it before any other hospital in New York."

"It's got to be free before we get it. The men wouldn't spend a cent to
get it for us. They think sufferin' with children is a part of our job."

"We have to educate them out of that idea."

"I'd like to see you do it!"

"Begin with Billy, Mrs. Biggs. That's the way we must go about it--catch
them young."

"Billy's got a real tender heart, mebbe he would understand, but Lord!
the most on 'em!" She lifted her hands in a gesture of hopelessness.

The letters from Jerry were full of discouragement. The weather was hot,
the city dirty, all the studios for rent had none of the things they
required. Babies were not supposed to live in studios. He was tempted to
try for a regular apartment for the family, and get a small workshop for
himself. What would Jane think of that idea?

She wrote to him to use his own judgment in the matter. She thought it
might prove a good plan to have the studio separate from the living
quarters; certainly it would protect his work. She reminded him of the
many failures in the spring, before they found what they wanted, so he
must not be downhearted. Sho