Page:A Girl of the Limberlost.djvu/195

Rh can't sit and eat cookies before a little boy who has none. I'll have to put mine back, too." Billy's face was a puzzle. It twisted in despair. "Aw, go on!" he said gruffly, but his chin was jumping, for Wesley was his idol. "Can't do it," said Wesley. "It would choke me." Billy turned to Margaret. "You make him," he appealed. "He can't, Billy," said Margaret. "I know how he feels. You see, I can't myself." Then Billy slid from his chair, ran to the couch, buried his face in the pillow and cried heartbrokenly. Wesley hurried to the barn, and Margaret to the kitchen. When the dishes were almost washed Billy slipped from the back door. Wesley piling hay into the mangers heard a sound behind him and inquired, "That you, Billy?" "Yes," answered Billy, "and it's all so dark you can't see me now, isn't it?" "Well, mighty near," answered Wesley. "Then you stoop down and open your mouth." Sinton had shared bites of apple and nuts for weeks, for Billy had not learned how to eat anything without dividing with Jimmy and Belle. Since he was separated from them, he shared with Wesley and Margaret. So he bent over the small figure and received an instalment of cooky that almost choked him. "Now you can eat it!" shouted Billy in delight. "It's all dark! I can't see what you're doing 't all!"