Her thin lips set themselves firmly and her voice had a hard ring . `` Not going to keep him ? '' said Mrs. John Joe blankly . `` You ca n't send him back to Californy ! '' `` I do n't intend to . But as for having him here to worry my life out and keep me in a perpetual stew , I just wo n't do it . D'ye think I 'm going to trouble myself about children at my age ? And all he 'd cost for clothes and schooling , too ! I ca n't afford it . I do n't suppose his father expected it either . I suppose he expected me to look after him a bit -- and of course I will . A boy of his age ought to be able to earn his keep , anyway . If I look out a place for him somewhere where he can do odd jobs and go to school in the winter , I think it 's all anyone can expect of me , when he ai n't really no blood relation . '' Miss Cynthia flung the last sentence at Mrs. John Joe rather defiantly , not liking the expression on that lady 's face . `` I suppose nobody could expect more , Cynthy , '' said Mrs. John Joe deprecatingly . `` He would be an awful bother , I 've no doubt , and you 've lived alone so long with no one to worry you that you would n't know what to do with him . Boys are always getting into mischief -- my four just keep me on the dead jump . Still , it 's a pity for him , poor little fellow ! No mother or father -- it seems hard . '' Miss Cynthia 's face grew grimmer than ever as she went to the door with her callers and watched them down the garden path .
As soon as Mrs. John XXXXX saw that the door was shut , she unburdened her mind to her daughter .
Californy Cynthia Cynthy D'ye Joe course fellow lips ring schooling