Then Mr. Fabian replied: "Why, I called upon my girls at the Studio this evening, after I left you, and I found the most astonishing addition to their family circle. A little baby boy was left on their door-step, it seems. A fine little fellow, too.
"So far, no one has called to claim him, and should no one come, the two girls have a plan to place him in a good home. They told me all about it, and I rather approve of the idea, too. But what they need, at once, is an experienced, capable woman to take care of the boy, until Thanksgiving Day--perhaps after that, if she is found to be satisfactory.
"I thought, at once, of that woman that Mrs. Ashby and you were speaking of, at table, to-night. Do you suppose she would consider a position as second-mother to a baby?"
The girls strained their ears to hear the reply but Mr. Ashby spoke too low, and they could but judge what he said by Mr. Fabian's words afterward.
"Fine! If Mrs. Ashby will not consider it too much trouble. And she will bring Martha down to-morrow afternoon when the girls are home from school?"
Polly and Eleanor smiled with relief, and Mr. Fabian said over the 'phone, "All right! Thanks, Ashby. And thank your wife for the two girls, too, who are waiting here for the verdict."
As the three left the hotel again, Mr. Fabian said: "Now that much is satisfactorily settled for you, and Billy shall have a good woman to look after him, if he is still unclaimed to-morrow afternoon."
The girls were altogether too inexperienced to realize that it was curious how easily the Ashbys, Mr. Dalken's most intimate friends, and Mr. Fabian agreed to such a strange plan as trying to saddle a foundling baby on a man who lived a hermit's life when in his own home.
They never questioned the readiness with which these friends accepted their proposition, but they were delighted at the "lucky chance" that brought a woman to Mrs. Ashby on the very day that they began to think of employing a woman-nurse for the baby.
Mr. Fabian walked back to the Studio door with them, smiling at their dreams of future bliss for Mr. Dalken. In fact, their thoughts traveled so far into the future, that they saw Billy a fine young man and Mr. Dalken, white-haired and bent, depending on his beloved adopted son for everything.