James had swallowed back his tears and was working on an escape plan, when he heard what the constable had in storefor him and his nephew and niece. An orphanage was better than the reformatory they had stuck one of his brothers in, but it still sounded awful.

"I ain't goin' to no orphanage! Me parents are alive and there's the Meijers lookin' after me. They can look after Ruth's bairns too!"