apple for myself, but I tried to get some for them and the dog got too
close. Say, you can throw, can't you?"

"Yes," admitted Elnora. She poured half the milk into the cup. "Drink
this," she said, holding it to him.

The boy gulped the milk and swore joyously, gripping the cup with
shaking fingers.

"Hush!" cried Elnora. "That's dreadful!"

"What's dreadful?"

"To say such awful words."

"Huh! pa says worser 'an that every breath he draws."

Elnora saw that the child was older than she had thought. He might have
been forty judging by his hard, unchildish expression.

"Do you want to be like your father?"

"No, I want to be like you. Couldn't a angel be prettier 'an you. Can I
have more milk?"

Elnora emptied the flask. The boy drained the cup. He drew a breath of
satisfaction as he gazed into her face.

"You wouldn't go off and leave your little boy, would you?" he asked.