With this intention she laid the baby in its cot, but the child resented this arrangement and began to cry, so she had to hold him under her left arm while she made the tea.

Seeing her in this predicament, Slyme exclaimed, holding out his hands: 'Here, let me hold him while you do that.' 'Will you ?' said Ruth, who, in spite of her instinctive dislike of the man, could not help feeling gratified with this attention.

'Well, mind you don't let him fall.' But the instant Slyme took hold of the child it began to cry even louder than it did when it was put into the cradle.
'He's always like that with strangers,' apologized Ruth as she took him back again.
'Wait a minute,' said Slyme, 'I've got something upstairs in my pocket that will keep him quiet.

I'd forgotten all about it.' He went up to his room and presently returned with the rattle.

When the baby saw the bright colours and heard the tinkling of the bells he crowed with delight, and reached out his hands eagerly towards it and allowed Slyme to take him without a murmur of protest.