What ye goin' to do ?" "Dun'no'," replied Jerome; then he gave a weak, childish gesture, and caught his breath in a sob.

He was scarcely more than a child, after all, and his uncle Ozias was the only remaining natural tower to his helplessness.
"O Lord, don't ye go to whimperin', big man like you!" responded Ozias Lamb, quickly.

"Look at here--" Ozias paused a moment, pondering.

Jerome waited, trying to keep the sobs back.
"Tell you what 'tis," said Ozias.

"It's one of the cases where the sarpents and the doves come in.