"She isn't strong enough to do that, Billy. They will grow into a good boy and girl where they are."
Billy slid from Sinton's arms and walked toward Margaret until he reached the middle of the room. Then he stopped, and at last sat on the floor. Finally he lay down and closed his eyes. "This feels more like my bed; if only Jimmy and Belle was here to crowd up a little, so it wasn't so alone like."
"Won't I do, Billy?" asked Sinton in a husky voice.
Billy moved restlessly. "Seems like—seems like—toward night as if a body got kind o' lonesome for a woman person—like her."
Billy indicated Margaret and then closed his eyes so tight his small face wrinkled.
Soon he was up again. "'Wisht I had Snap," he said. "Oh, I ist wisht I had Snap!"
"I thought you laid a board on Snap and jumped on it," said Sinton.
"We did!" cried Billy—"oh, you ought to heard him squeal!" Billy laughed loudly, then his face clouded. "But I want Snap to lay beside me so bad now—that if he was here I'd give him a piece of my chicken, 'fore I ate any. Do you like dogs?"
"Yes, I do," said Sinton.
Billy was up instantly. "Would you like Snap?"
"I am sure I would," said Sinton.
"Would she?" Billy indicated Margaret. And then he answered his own question. "But of course, she wouldn't, cos she likes cats, and dogs chases cats. O,
