She had not first asked him if he were hungry.
"I'm much obliged for my pants and this cake and pie," said the boy, so the woman said, "Yes, yes," and hugged him briefly as he ate.
Not until he had consumed the last morsel of these provisions and eke a bumper of milk did the woman lead him back to that shaded porch where he had lately been put to the torture.

But now he was another being, clad not only as became a man among men but inwardly fortified by food.

If stepmothers were like this he wished his own father would find one.

The girl with her talk about cruelty--he still admired her, but she must be an awful liar.

He faced the tormenting group on the porch with almost faultless self-possession.