Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/54

46 and morbid from staying alone in the house all this time.”

“Perhaps you are right (now the other hand, Mary). Of course you can have James and the coupé, if you will order what you want. It will be pleasanter for you, if not for Fred.”

Bess felt her color come. She had not expected much from Mrs. Allen, but this was too unkind,—to think that she was speaking two words for herself and one for Fred! But Mrs. Allen was not fine enough to see how her remark had cut, and Bess resolved to bear anything for the sake of her boy; so she thanked his mother, a little coldly, perhaps, and then  departed to the kitchen, where she asked the  coachman to bring the coupe to the door as  soon as he could, and requested the plump, ruddy cook, the family tyrant, to get her Fred’s coat and hat.

The good woman’s face brightened perceptibly.

“An’ is it goin’ out he is? Bless the poor dear b’y; it’s a long, long time since he’s had a hat on his head, and it’s I as am glad to be gettin’ it for you. The air’ll do him good, sure!”