`` I 'm really sorry for you , '' said Mrs. John Joe . `` But , poor child , I suppose he 's never had anyone to look after him . And come all the way from Californy alone , too -- he must be real smart . '' `` Too smart , I guess . He must take after his mother , whoever she was , for there ai n't a bit of Merrivale in him . And he 's been brought up pretty rough . '' `` Well , it 'll be a great responsibility for you , Cynthia , of course . But he 'll be company , too , and he 'll be real handy to run errands and -- '' '' I 'm not going to keep him , '' said Miss Cynthia determinedly . 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 XXXXX 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 . ''
Californy Cynthia Joe Merrivale after errands for from of to