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r his journey。 He accepted a glass of water （I admire a temperate parent）； and evinced an impatient desire to be done with the business。 So I rang the bell and ordered the little Sophie to be brought down。
〃Hold on； Miss McGee！〃 said he to me。 〃I'd rather see her in her own environment。 I will go with you to the playroom or corral or wherever you keep your youngsters。〃
So I led him to the nursery； where thirteen or fourteen mites in gingham rompers were tumbling about on mattresses on the floor。 Sophie； alone in the glory of feminine petticoats； was ensconced in the blue…ginghamed arms of a very bored orphan。 She was squirming and fighting to get down； and her feminine petticoats were tightly wound about her neck。 I took her in my arms； smoothed her clothes； wiped her nose； and invited her to look at the gentleman。
That child's whole future hung upon five minutes of sunniness； and instead of a single smile； she WHINED！
Mr。 Bretland shook her hand in a very gingerly fashion and chirruped to her as you might to a pup。 Sophie took not the slightest notice of him； but turned her back； and buried her face in my neck。 He shrugged his shoulders； supposed that they could take her on trial。 She might suit his wife； he himself didn't want one； anyway。 And we turned to go out。
Then who should come toddling straight across his path but that little sunbeam Allegra！ Exactly in front of him she staggered； threw her arms about like a windmill； and plumped down on all fours。 He hopped aside with great agility to avoid stepping on her； and then picked her up and set her on her feet。 She clasped her arms about his leg； and looked up at him with a gurgling laugh。
〃Daddy！ Frow baby up！〃
He is the first man； barring the doctor； whom the child has seen for weeks； and evidently he resembles somewhat her almost forgotten father。
J。 F。 Bretland picked her up and tossed her in the air as handily as though it were a daily occurrence； while she ecstatically shrieked her delight。 Then when he showed signs of lowering her； she grasped him by an ear and a nose； and drummed a tattoo on his stomach with both feet。 No one could ever accuse Allegra of lacking vitality！
J。 F。 disentangled himself from her endearments； and emerged； rumpled as to hair； but with a firm…set jaw。 He set her on her feet； but retained her little doubled…up fist。
〃This is the kid for me；〃 he said。 〃I don't believe I need to look any further。〃
I explained that we couldn't separate little Allegra from her brothers； but the more I objected； the stubborner his jaw became。 We went back to the library； and argued about it for half an hour。
He liked her heredity； he liked her looks； he liked her spirit； he liked HER。 If he was going to have a daughter foisted on him； he wanted one with some ginger。 He'd be hanged if he'd take that other whimpering little thing。 It wasn't natural。 But if I gave him Allegra； he would bring her up as his own child； and see that she was provided for for the rest of her life。 Did I have any right to cut her out from all that just for a lot of sentimental nonsense？ The family was already broken up； the best I could do for them now was to provide for them individually。 〃Take all three；〃 said I； quite brazenly。
But； no； he couldn't consider that； his wife was an invalid； and one child was all that she could manage。
Well； I was in a dreadful quandary。 It seemed such a chance for the child； and yet it did seem so cruel to separate her from those two adoring little brothers。 I knew that if the Bretlands adopted her legally； they would do their best to break all ties with the past； and the child was still so tiny she would forget her brothers as quickly as she had her father。
Then I thought about you； Judy； and of how bitter you have always been because； when that family wanted to adopt you； the asylum wouldn't let you go。 You have always said that you might have had a home； too； like other children； but that Mrs。 Lippett stole it away from you。 Was I perhaps stealing little Allegra's home from her？ With the two boys it would be different； they could be educated and turned out to shift for themselves。 But to a girl a home like this would mean everything。 Ever since baby Allegra came to us； she has seemed to me just such another child as baby Judy must have been。 She has ability and spirit。 We must somehow furnish her with opportunity。 She； too； deserves her share of the world's beauty and goodas much as nature has fitted her to appreciate。 And could any asylum ever give her that？ I stood and thought and thought while Mr。 Bretland impatiently paced the floor。
〃You have those boys down and let me talk to them；〃 Mr。 Bretland insisted。 〃If they have a spark of generosity； they'll be glad to let her go。〃
I sent for them； but my heart was a solid lump of lead。 They were still missing their father； it seemed merciless to snatch away that darling baby sister； too。
They came hand in hand； sturdy； fine little chaps； and stood solemnly at attention； with big； wondering eyes fixed on the strange gentleman。
〃Come here； boys。 I want to talk to you。〃 He took each by a hand。 〃In the house I live in we haven't any little baby； so my wife and I decided to come here； where there are so many babies without fathers and mothers； and take one home to be ours。 She will have a beautiful house to live in； and lots of toys to play with； and she will be happy all her lifemuch happier than she could ever be here。 I know that you will be very glad to hear that I have chosen your little sister。〃
〃And won't we ever see her any more？〃 asked Clifford。
〃Oh； yes； sometimes。〃
Clifford looked from me to Mr。 Bretland； and two big tears began rolling down his cheeks。 He jerked his hand away and came and hurled himself into my arms。
〃Don't let him have her！ Please！ Please！ Send him away！〃
〃Take them all！〃 I begged。
But he's a hard man。
〃I didn't come for an entire asylum；〃 said he； shortly。
By this time Don was sobbing on the other side。 And then who should inject himself into the hubbub but Dr。 MacRae； with baby Allegra in his arms！
I introduced them； and explained。 Mr。 Bretland reached for the baby； and Sandy held her tight。
〃Quite impossible；〃 said Sandy； shortly。 〃Miss McBride will tell you that it's one of the rules of this institution never to separate a family。〃
〃Miss McBride has already decided；〃 said J。 F。 B。； stiffly。 〃We have fully discussed the question。〃
〃You must be mistaken；〃 said Sandy； becoming his Scotchest； and turning to me。 〃You surely had no intention of performing any such cruelty as this？〃
Here was the decision of Solomon all over again； with two of the stubbornest men that the good Lord ever made wresting poor little Allegra limb from limb。
I despatched the three chicks back to the nursery and returned to the fray。 We argued loud and hotly； until finally J。 F。 B。 echoed my own frequent query of the last five months： 〃Who is the head of this asylum； the superintendent or the visiting physician？〃
I was furious with the doctor for placing me in such a position before that man； but I couldn't quarrel with him in public； so I had ultimately