Thedayafterthisadvertisingwasfinishedhewaitedinthefrontroomdressedinashirtandatie.Nothinghappehejewelerwhogavehimoverflowworktodoathalfpritinacoupleofclocks.Thatwasall.Hetookithard.Hedidntgoouttolookforotherjobsanymore,buteveryminutehehadtobebusyaroundthehouse.Hetookdownthedoorsandoiledthehinges—whethertheyornot.HemixedthemargarineforPortiaandscrubbedthefloorsupstairs.Heworkedoutatraptiohewaterfromtheiceboxcouldbedraihroughthekitwindow.HecarvedsomebeautifulalphabetblocksforRalphandiedalittleneedle-threader.Overthefewwatchesthathehadtoworkoookgreatpains.

    MickstillfollowedMisterSinger.Butshedidntwantto.Itwasliketherewassomethingwrongaboutherfollowingafterhimwithouthisknowing.Twoorthreedayssheplayedhookvfromschool.Shewalkedbehindhimwheoworkandhungaroundontheernearhisstoreallday.WheehisdiMisterBrannointothedspentanickelforasackofpeanuts.

    Thenatnightshefollowedhimonthesedark,longwalks.Shestayedontheoppositesideofthestreetfromhimandaboutablockbehind.Wheopped,shestoppedalso—andwhenhewalkedfastsherantokeepupwithhim.Solongasshecouldseehimandbenearhimshewasrighthappy.Butsometimesthisqueerfeelingwouldetoherandshekhatshewasdoingwrong.Soshetriedhardtokeepbusyathome.

    SheandherDadwerealikeihatnowtheyalwayshadtobefoolingwithsomething.Shekeptupwithallthatwentoninthehouseandtheneighborhood.Spare-ribsbigsisterwonfiftydollarsatamoviebanknight.BabyWilsonhadthebandageoffherheadnow,butherhairwascutshort

    likeaboys.Shecouldntdahesoireethisyear,andwhehertookhertoseeitBa