She hated babies--but she simply could not go away and leave that poor little creature with Mrs.Conover--who was applying herself again to her black bottle and would probably be helplessly drunk before anybody came.
"I can't stay," thought Rilla.

"Mr.Crawford said I must be home by supper-time because he wanted the pony this evening himself.

Oh, what can I do ?" She made a sudden, desperate, impulsive resolution.
"I'll take the baby home with me," she said.

"Can I ?" "Sure, if yez wants to," said Mrs.Conover amiably.

"I hain't any objection.