A cup of warmed milk was brought in short order, and Mrs. Stewart held it out to Anne, as she was still holding the baby. The moment Billy saw the cup, he almost leaped from Anne's arms, and immediately began gurgling for very glee.
Everyone laughed at his antics, and Anne was about to hold the cup to his lips, when two fat hands clutched at it in a hungry endeavor to reach the contents. Of course, part of the milk spilled on his nightie but the remainder he drank greedily.
"He's well-trained--whoever he is. I should say that he has had every attention in the past, to have him act like this at his age," said Mrs. Latimer.
"But we don't know how old he is. He may be months older than we thought for," argued Mrs. Evans.
"Well, he isn't more than eighteen months at the most," declared Mrs. Stewart.
Polly and Eleanor stood silently by listening to these experienced mothers, but Anne smiled indulgently at them, and kept her opinions to herself.
Dr. Evans and Mr. Latimer stopped for their wives, and when they had heard and been shown the fine boy, they gave their masculine opinions.
"A baby who was boarded out, and the parents hadn't paid up recently. So the woman left him on the first door-step to get rid of him," was the doctor's verdict.
"There spoke the doctor who knows of such cases," said Anne.
"That isn't it, however," remarked Mr. Latimer. "I am of the opinion that this child is of wealthy parentage. He likely is a stumbling-block for some heirs, who wish him safely out of the way so they may claim the estate."
Anne laughed again. "There speaks the attorney. But you should have had the jealous heirs remove this monogramed locket before they tried to get rid of all evidence of a barrier to their inheritance."
"Reckon we'd better stop romancing and put Billy to bed," said Polly, in a matter-of-fact voice.
Her common sense caused a general laugh, and Dr. Evans added: "Well, ladies! Come on, if we are to get home to-night."
With a last look at the sleepy cherub, and a good-night to the friends living in the Studio, the four New Yorkers went out.
"Where shall he sleep to-night?" asked Anne.
"Oh--I found him first--let me have him," begged Eleanor.
"No, girls; babies should sleep absolutely alone. I will get a drawer from the high-boy and rig him up a nice little bed therein. To-morrow night he will be in his own home, most likely," explained Mrs. Stewart.