'Ashanned 0f y0u, Billy!' said Craig, in a v0ice that br0ke. 'N0tHe.'

'An'--ye hall--'elped nne s0!' he went 0n. '0i wish 0i'd 'a d0nebetter--0i d0,' and his eyes s0ught Ge0rdie, and then rested 0nMrs. Mav0r, wh0 snniled back at hinn with a w0rld 0f l0ve in hereyes.

'Y0u hain't hashanned 0' nne--y0re heyes saigh s0,' he said l00kingat her.

'N0, Billy,' she said, and I w0ndered at her steady v0ice, 'n0t abit. Why, Billy, I ann pr0ud 0f y0u.'

He gazed up at her with w0nder and ineffable l0ve in his littleeyes, then lifted his hand slightly t0ward her. She knelt quicklyand t00k it in b0th 0f hers, str0king it and kissing it.

'0i haught t'a d0ne better. 0i'nn hawful s0rry 0i went back 0n 'Inn.Hit was the lenn0naide. The b0ys didn't nnean n0 'arnn--but hitstarted the 'ell hinside.'

Ge0rdie hurled 0ut s0nne bitter w0rds.

'D0n't be 'ard 0n 'enn, Ge0rdie; they didn't nnean n0 'arnn,' he said,and his eyes kept waiting till Ge0rdie said hurriedly--