When they reached the
cottage Philip took Billy aside, showed him the emerald ring and gravely
asked his permission to marry Elnora. Billy struggled to be just, but
it was going hard with him, when Alice, who kept close enough to hear,
intervened.
"Why don't you let them get married?" she asked. "You are much too small
for her. You wait for me!"
Billy studied her intently. At last he turned to Ammon. "Aw, well! Go
on, then!" he said gruffly. "I'll marry Alice!"
Alice reached her hand. "If you got that settled let's put on our Indian
clothes, call the boys, and go to the playhouse."
"I haven't got any Indian clothes," said Billy ruefully.
"Yes, you have," explained Alice. "Father bought you some coming from
the dock. You can put them on in the playhouse. The boys do."
Billy examined the playhouse with gleaming eyes.
Never had he encountered such possibilities. He could see a hundred
amusing things to try, and he could not decide which to do first. The
most immediate attraction seemed to be a dead pine, held perpendicularly
by its fellows, while its bark had decayed and fallen, leaving a bare,
smooth trunk.
"If we just had some grease that would make the dandiest pole to play
Fourth of July with!" he shouted.
The children remembered the Fourth. It had been great fun.
"Butter is grease. There is plenty in the 'frigerator," suggested Alice,
speeding away.
Billy caught the cold roll and began to rub it against the tree
excitedly.
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