Indeed, it was Dick's easy-natured, "Ah, let the kid go, why don't you ?" which gave Ford an excuse for reconsidering.
And Buddy repaid him after his usual fashion.

At the supper table he looked up, round-eyed, from his plate.
"Gee, but I'm hungry!" he sighed.

"I eat and eat, just like a horse eating hay, and I just can't fill up the hole in me." "There, never mind, honey," Mrs.Kate interposed hastily, fearing worse.
"Do you want more bread and butter ?" "Yes--you always use bread for stuffing, don't you?
I want to be stuffed.

All the way home my b--my stomerch was a-flopping against my backbone, just like Dick's.

Only Dick said--" "Never mind what Dick said." Mrs.Kate thrust the bread toward him, half buttered.
"Dick's mad, I guess.