"Did he say so?" she questioned, for she had noticed Dick's coldnessand been vaguely disturbed by it.

The kid nodded. "Yes," he exclaimed, "he tol' me so. Said there's 'noughfer his father ter feed 'thout you'n him," and he pointed to the baby.

"But I work," pleaded Nan. "I pay for all we eat."

"But ye don't pay fer the rent an' the fire, an'--an' everything,"Tode said in reply, with a note of triumph inside his voice, "so now, ye much betterlet me pay fer Little Brother an' then you c'n pay the rest."

Nan hesitated and her face was troubled. Finally she lifted her darkeyes to his and said bravely, "Tode, I guess I ought to tell you justwhy I couldn't anyway let you do for Little Brother as you wantto. It's because--because you don't get your money the right way."

"Who says I don't? Did that Dick Hunt say so? I'll"--began Tode,fiercely, but Nan laid her hand on his arm and looked steadily intohis face.

"Tode," she said, earnestly, "if you will look straight into LittleBrother's eyes and tell me that you never steal--I'll believe you."

"I never"--began the kid, boldly; then he met a grave, sweet glancefrom the baby's huge yellow eyes, and he hesitated. The lying words diedon his tongue, and turning his eyes away from the little face that heloved, he said gloomily, "What's that got to do with it anyhow?S'posin' I do hook a han'ful of peanuts occasionally. That ain'tnothin'."

"Tode, do you want Little Brother to hook a armful of peanutssometimes when he gets gigantic?" asked Nan, quietly.