Page:Anna Chapin--Half a dozen boys.djvu/69

Rh slyly dropped a morsel in front of the nose of Fuzz, who for once lay asleep. “It will take more than this snow to keep those boys away, unless Teddy has one of his colds and can’t come. I wish Fred could have been here.”

“Why didn’t you have him?” asked her mother.

“Have him!” echoed Bess. “It is easy to say ‘have him,’ but except for half a dozen drives, he has refused to go out at all; and he won’t see any of the boys but Rob. Poor Rob tries to be very devoted, but I dimly suspect Fred is occasionally rather cross.”

“Who could blame him?” said Mrs. Carter.

“Rob takes it very meekly,” Bess went on, as she slowly peeled an orange. “Fred never shows that side to me, but I think it is there. But it is really scandalous the way Mrs. Allen goes on. Fred is left to himself the whole time, just when he needs so much help physically, mentally, and morally.”

“I wish you could have him all the time, Bess,” said her mother. “You are good for him, and he enjoys you.”

Let’s adopt him, mother! He’s splendid