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           Sheploddedinherself-perpetuatingcircleofstove,worktableandsinkasifnothingelseexisted.SoMeggiehadnochoice;shesimplyfilledthevacuuminthechild’slifeandbecamehismother.Itwasn’tanysacrifice,forshelovedhimdearlyandfoundhimahelpless,willingtargetforalltheloveshewasbeginningtowanttolavishonsomehumancreature.Hecriedforher,hespokehernamebeforeallothers,heliftedhisarmstohertobepickedup;itwassosatisfyingitfilledherwithjoy.Inspiteofthedrudgery,theknittingandmendingandsewing,thewashing,theironing,thehens,alltheotherjobsshehadtodo,Meggiefoundherlifeverypleasant.

           NooneevermentionedFrank,buteverysixweeksFeewouldliftherheadwhensheheardthemailcall,andforawhilebeanimated.ThenMrs.Smithwouldbringintheirshareofwhateverhadcome,andwhenitcontainednoletterfromFrankthesmallburstofpainfulinterestwoulddie.

           Thereweretwonewlivesinthehouse.Feewasdeliveredoftwins,twomoretinyred-hairedClearyboys,christenedJamesandPatrick.Thedearestlittlefellows,withtheirfather’ssunnydispositionandhissweetnessofnature,theybecamecommonpropertyimmediatelytheywereborn,forbeyondgivingthemmilkFeetooknointerestinthem.SoontheirnameswereshortenedtoJimsandPatsy;theywereprimefavoriteswiththewomenupatthebighouse,thetwospinstermaidsandthewidowedchildlesshousekeeper,whowerestarvedforthedeliciousnessofbabies.