of the depths—though how in the world they came here I haven’t yet
made out, except that the little girl—and she’s the merest mite
herself—lugged the baby all the way from the city. Ally was up there
in the hollow and found them. It’s fortunate that there are such good
Institutions”—
“No, no, no!” interrupted Ally, who, very proud of herself, had also
come to meet Old Uncle. “She can’t go to a ’statution. She’s afraid
of them. If she doesn’t go back among the Children of the Hill, she’s
going to stay _here_. I asked her to. She belongs to me. I went up and
found her! And she has brought Aunt Susan’s baby.”
Aunt Susan glanced up as Old Uncle approached. And Old Uncle stopped a
moment, and looked at the smile on her face.
“If there weren’t so many children here now,” Essie was saying
tremulously, half pleading.
“There’s not a child too many!” said that surprising Old Uncle then,
patting Essie’s brown head. “All we needed was another little girl and
the Baby. Did she bring that child the whole way in her arms? Well,
she needn’t carry him any farther. It wouldn’t be possible for them to
make any louder noise than we have now. They are going to stay with us,
and make two more Children of the Valley.”
* * * * *
Transcriber’s Note: Obvious punctuation errors repaired.