Hehadthelastpieceofcakeinonehand，andthelastbiteofsaladdisappearedinonegreatgulp。Thenthegirlsshoutedagain。
\"Let\'shaveasampleourselves，\"suggestedone。Shecaughtuptheboxandhandedouttheremainingsandwich。Anothergirldivideditintobiteseachlittleoveraninchsquare，andthensheliftedthecuplidanddepositedapreservedstrawberryoneachbite。\"One，two，three，altogethernow!\"
shecried。
\"Youoldmeanthings!\"screamedBilly。
Inaninstanthewasdownintheroadandhandfulsofdustbegantoflyamongthem。Thegirlsscatteredbeforehim。
\"Billy!\"criedElnora。\"Billy!I\'llnevergiveyouanotherbite，ifyouthrowdustonanyone!\"
ThenBillydroppedthedust，boredbothfistsintohiseyes，andfledsobbingintoElnora\'snewblueskirt。
Shestoopedtomeethimandconsolationbegan。Thosegirlslaughedon。Theyscreamedandshouteduntilthelittlebridgeshook。
\"To-morrowmightaswellbeaclearday，\"saidEllen，passingaroundandfeedingtheremainingberriestothegirlsastheycouldcomposethemselvesenoughtotakethem。
\"Billy，Iadmireyourtastemorethanyourtemper。\"
Elnoralookedup。\"Thelittlesoulisnothingbutskinandbones，\"shesaid。\"Ineverwasreallyhungrymyself；
wereanyofyou?\"
\"Well，Ishouldsayso，\"criedaplump，rosygirl。
\"I\'mfamishedrightnow。Let\'shavebreakfastimmediate!\"
\"Wegottorefillthisboxfirst!\"saidEllenBrownlee。
\"Who\'sgotthebutter?\"Agirladvancedwithawoodentray。
\"Putitinthepreservecup，alittlestrawberryflavourwon\'thurtit。Next!\"calledEllen。
AloafofbreadwasproducedandEllencutoffapiecewhichfilledthesandwichbox。
\"Next!\"Abottleofoliveswasunwrapped。Thegrocer\'sboywhowaswaitingopenedthat，andEllenfilledthesaladdish。
\"Next!\"
Abagofmacaroonswasproducedandthecakecompartmentfilled。
\"Next!\"
\"Idon\'tsupposethiswillmakequiteasgooddogfeedasabird，\"laughedagirlholdingopenabagofslicedhamwhileEllenfilledthemeatdish。
\"Next!\"
Aboxofcandywashandedherandshestuffedeverycornerofthelunchboxwithchocolatesandnougat。
ThenitwasclosedandformallypresentedtoElnora。
Thegirlseachhelpedthemselvestocandyandolives，andgaveBillytheremainderofthefood。Billytookonebiteofham，andapproved。BelleandJimmyhadgivenupchasingthedog，andangryandashamed，stoodwaitinghalfablockaway。
\"Comeback!\"criedBilly。\"Yougreatbigdunces，comeback!They\'sanewkindofmeat，andcakeandcandy。\"
Theboydelayed，butthegirljoinedBilly。Ellenwipedherfingers，steppedtothecementabutmentandbeganreciting\"HoratioattheBridge!\"substitutingElnorawherevertheheroappearedinthelines。
Elnoragatheredupthesacks，andgavethemtoBelle，tellinghertotakethefoodhome，cutandspreadthebread，setthingsonthetable，andeatnicely。
ThenElnorawastakenintothewagonwiththegirls，anddrivenontheruntothehighschool。Theysangasongbeginning——
\"Elnora，pleasegivemeasandwich。
I\'mashamedtoaskforcake\"
astheywent。Elnoradidnotknowit，butthatwasherinitiation。Shebelongedto\"thecrowd。\"Sheonlyknewthatshewashappy，andvaguelywonderedwhathermotherandAuntMargaretwouldhavesaidabouttheproceedings。
CHAPTERVII
WHEREINMRS。COMSTOCKMANIPULATESMARGARET
ANDBILLYACQUIRESARESIDENCE
SaturdaymorningElnorahelpedhermotherwiththework。
WhenshehadfinishedMrs。ComstocktoldhertogotoSintons\'andwashherIndianrelics，sothatshewouldbereadytoaccompanyWesleytotownintheafternoon。
Elnorahurrieddowntheroadandwassoonatthecisternwithatubbusilywashingarrowpoints，stoneaxes，tubes，pipes，andskin-cleaningimplements。
Thenshewenthome，dressedandwaswaitingwhenthecarriagereachedthegate。Shestoppedatthebankwiththebox，andSintonwenttodohismarketingandsomeshoppingforhiswife。
AtthedrygoodsstoreMr。Brownleecalledtohim，\"Hello，Sinton!Howdoyoulikethefateofyourlunchbox?\"Thenhebegantolaugh——
\"Ialwayshatetoseeamanlaughingalone，\"saidSinton。
Itlookssoselfish!Tellmethefun，andletmehelpyou。\"
Mr。Brownleewipedhiseyes。
\"Isupposedyouknew，butIseeshehasn\'ttold。\"
Thenthethreedays\'historyofthelunchboxwasrepeatedwithparticularswhichincludedthedog。
\"Nowlaugh!\"concludedMr。Brownlee。
\"BlestifIseeanythingfunny!\"repliedWesleySinton。
\"Andifyouhadboughtthatboxandfurnishedoneofthoselunchesyourself，youwouldn\'teither。Icallsuchaworkashame!I\'llhaveitstopped。\"
\"Someonemustseetothat，allright。Theyarelittleleeches。Theirfatherearnsenoughtosupportthem，buttheyhavenomother，andtheyrunwild。Isupposetheyarecrazyforcookedfood。Butitisfunny，andwhenyouthinkitoveryouwillseeit，ifyoudon\'tnow。\"
\"Aboutwherewouldabodyfindthatfather?\"inquiredWesleySintongrimly。Mr。Brownleetoldhimandhestarted，locatingthehousewithlittledifficulty。
Housewastheproperword，forofhometherewasnosign。
Justasmallemptyhousewiththreeunkeptlittlechildrenracingthroughandaroundit。Thegirlandtheelderboyhungback，butdirtylittleBillygreetedSintonwith:
\"Whatyouwanthere?\"
\"Iwanttoseeyourfather，\"saidSinton。)
\"Well，he\'sasleep，\"saidBilly。
\"Where?\"askedSinton。
\"Inthehouse，\"answeredBilly，\"andyoucan\'twakehim。\"
\"Well，I\'lltry，\"saidWesley。
Billyledtheway。\"Thereheis!\"hesaid。\"Heisdrunkagain。\"
Onadirtymattressinacornerlayamanwhoappearedtobestrongandwell。Billywasright。Youcouldnotawakehim。Hehadgonethelimit，andalittlebeyond。
Hewasnowfacingeternity。Sintonwentoutandclosedthedoor。
\"Yourfatherissickandneedshelp，\"hesaid。
\"Youstayhere，andIwillsendamantoseehim。\"
\"Ifyoujustlethim\'lone，he\'llsleepitoff，\"
volunteeredBilly。\"He\'sthatwayallthetime，buthewakesupandgetsussomethingtoeatafterawhile。
Onlywaitin\'twistsyouupinsideprettybad。\"
Theboyworenoairofcomplaint。Hewasmerelystatingfacts。
WesleySintonlookedintentlyatBilly。\"Areyoutwistedupinsidenow?\"heasked。
Billylaidagrimyhandontheregionofhisstomachandthefilthylittlewaistsankclosetothebackbone。
\"Betyerlife，boss，\"hesaidcheerfully。
\"Howlonghaveyoubeentwisted?\"askedSinton。
Billyappealedtotheothers。\"Whenwasitwehadthestuffonthebridge?\"
\"Yesterdaymorning，\"saidthegirl。
\"Isthatallgone?\"askedSinton。
\"Shewentandtoldustotakeithome，\"saidBillyruefully，\"and\'cosshesaidto，wetookit。Pahadcomeback，hewasdrinkingsomemore，andheatealotofit——
almostthewholething，anditmadehimsickasadog，andhewentandwastedallofit。Thenhegotdrunksomemore，andnowhe\'sasleepagain。Wedidn\'tgethardlynone。\"
\"Youchildrensitonthestepsuntilthemancomes，\"
saidSinton。\"I\'llsendyousomethingstoeatwithhim。
What\'syourname，sonny?\"
\"Billy，\"saidtheboy。
\"Well，Billy，Iguessyoubettercomewithme。I\'lltakecareofhim，\"Sintonpromisedtheothers。HereachedahandtoBilly。
\"Iain\'tnobaby，I\'maboy!\"saidBilly，asheshuffledalongbesideSinton，takingakickateverymovableobjectwithoutregardtohisbatteredtoes。
OncetheypassedaGreatDanedoglollingafteritsmaster，andBillyascendedSintonasifhewereatree，andclungtohimwithtremblinghothands。
\"Iain\'tafraidofthatdog，\"scoffedBilly，ashewasagainplacedonthewalk，\"butonc\'thetookmeforaratorsomepin\'andhisteethcutintomyback。IfI\'dadoneright，I\'datookthelawonhim。\"
Sintonlookeddownintotheindignantlittleface。Thechildwasbrightenough，hehadagoodhead，butoh，suchabody!
\"I\'boutgotenoughofdogs，\"saidBilly。\"Iusedtolike\'em，butI\'mgettingprettytired。Yououghttoseenthelickin\'JimmyandBelleandmegiveourdogwhenwecaughthim，fortakingalittlebirdshegaveus。Wewaited\'tillhewasasleep\'nenlaidaboardonhimandallofusjumpedonittoonc\'t。Youcouldaheardhimyellamile。
Bellesaidmebbewecouldsqueezethebirdoutofhim。
But，squeezenothing!Hewashollerasus，andthatbirdwaslostlong\'foreitgottohisstummick。Itwasistalittleone，anyway。Bellesaiditwouldn\'t\'a\'madeabiteapieceforthreeofusnohow，andthedoggotonegoodswaller。
Wedidn\'tgetmuchofthemeat，either。Patookmostofthat。Seemslikepasanddogsgetseverything。\"
Billylaugheddolefully。InvoluntarilyWesleySintonreachedhishand。TheywerecomingintothebusinesspartofOnabashaandthestreetswerecrowded。Billyunderstoodittomeanthathemightlosehiscompanionandtookagrip。
Thatlittlehothandclingingtighttohis，thesorefeetrecklesslyscouringthewalk，thehungrychildpantingforbreathashetriedtokeepeven，thebravesouljestinginthefaceofhardluck，caughtSintoninatender，emptyspot。
\"Say，son，\"hesaid。\"Howwouldyouliketobewashedclean，andhaveallthesupperyourskincouldhold，andsleepinagoodbed?\"
\"Aw，gee!\"saidBilly。\"Iain\'tdeadyet!Themthingsisinheaven!Poorfolkscan\'thavethem。Pasaidso。\"
\"Well，youcanhavethemifyouwanttogowithmeandgetthem，\"promisedSinton。
\"Honest?\"
\"Yes，honest。\"
\"Crostyerheart?\"
\"Yes，\"saidSinton。
\"KinItakesometoJimmyandBelle?\"
\"Ifyou\'llcomewithmeandbemyboy，I\'llseethattheyhaveplenty。\"
\"Whatwillpasay?\"
\"Yourpaisinthatkindofsleepnowwherehewon\'twakeup，Billy，\"saidSinton。\"Iamprettysurethelawwillgiveyoutome，ifyouwanttocome。\"
\"Whenpeopledon\'teverwakeupthey\'redead，\"
announcedBilly。\"Ismypadead?\"
\"Yes，heis，\"answeredSinton。
\"Andyou\'lltakecareofJimmyandBelle，too?\"
\"Ican\'tadoptallthreeofyou，\"saidSinton。\"I\'lltakeyou，andseethattheyarewellprovidedfor。Willyoucome?\"
\"Yep，I\'llcome，\"saidBilly。\"Let\'seat，firstthingwedo。\"
\"Allright，\"agreedSinton。\"Comeintothisrestaurant。\"
HeliftedBillytothelunchcounterandorderedtheclerktogivehimasmanyglassesofmilkashewanted，andabiscuit。
\"Ithinkthere\'sgoingtobefriedchickenwhenwegethome，Billy，\"hesaid，\"soyoujusttaketheedgeoffnow，andfilluplater。\"
WhileBillylunchedSintoncalledupthedifferentdepartmentsandnotifiedtheproperauthoritiesendingwiththeWomen\'sReliefAssociation。HesentabasketoffoodtoBelleandJimmy，boughtBillyapairoftrousers，andashirt，andwenttobringElnora。
\"Why，UncleWesley!\"criedthegirl。\"WheredidyoufindBilly?\"
\"I\'veadoptedhimforthetimebeing，ifnotlonger，\"
repliedWesleySinton。
\"Wheredidyougethim?\"
\"Well，youngwoman，\"saidWesleySinton，\"Mr。Brownleetoldmethehistoryofyourlunchbox。Itdidn\'tseemsofunnytomeasitdoestotherestofthem；soI
wenttolookupthefatherofBilly\'sfamily，andmakehimtakecareofthem，orallowthelawtodoitforhim。
Itwillhavetobethelaw。\"
\"He\'sdeaderthananything!\"brokeinBilly。\"Hecan\'tevertakeallthemeatanymore。\"
\"Billy!\"gaspedElnora。
\"Neveryoumind!\"saidSinton。\"Achilddoesn\'tsaysuchthingsaboutafatherwholovedandraisedhimright。
Whenithappens，thefatheraloneistoblame。Youwon\'thearBillytalklikethataboutmewhenIcrossover。\"
\"Youdon\'tmeanyouaregoingtotakehimtokeep!\"
\"I\'llsoonneedhelp，\"saidWesley。\"Billywillcomeinjustaboutrighttenyearsfromnow，andifIraisehimI\'llhavehimthewayIwanthim。\"
\"ButAuntMargaretdoesn\'tlikeboys，\"objectedElnora。
\"Well，shelikesme，andIusedtobeaboy。Anyway，asIremembershehashadherwayabouteverythingatourhouseeversinceweweremarried。IamgoingtopleasemyselfaboutBilly。Hasn\'tshealwaysdonejustasshechosesofarasyouknow?Honest，Elnora!\"
\"Honest!\"repliedElnora。\"Youarebeautifultoallofus，UncleWesley；butAuntMargaretwon\'tlikeBilly。
Shewon\'twanthiminherhome。\"
\"Inourhome，\"correctedWesley。
\"Whatmakesyouwanthim?\"marvelledElnora。
\"Godonlyknows，\"saidSinton。\"Billyain\'tsobeautiful，andheain\'tsosmart，Iguessit\'sbecausehe\'ssohuman。
Myheartgoesouttohim。\"
\"Sodidmine，\"saidElnora。\"Ilovehim。I\'dratherseehimeatmylunchthanhaveitmyselfanytime。\"
\"Whatmakesyoulikehim?\"askedWesley。
\"Why，Idon\'tknow，\"ponderedElnora。\"He\'ssolittle，heneedssomuch，he\'sgotsuchsplendidgrit，andhe\'sperfectlyunselfishwithhisbrotherandsister。
ButwemustwashhimbeforeAuntMargaretseeshim。
Iwonderifmother——\"
\"Youneedn\'tbother。I\'mgoingtotakehimhomethewayheis，\"saidSinton。\"IwantMaggietoseetheworstofit。\"
\"I\'mafraid——\"beganElnora。
\"SoamI，\"saidWesley，\"butIwon\'tgivehimup。
He\'stakenasortofgriponmyheart。I\'vealwaysbeencrazyforaboy。Don\'tlethimhearus。\"
\"Don\'tlethimbekilled!\"criedElnora。DuringtheirtalkBillyhadwanderedtotheedgeofthewalkandbarelyescapedthewheelsofapassingautomobileinanefforttocatchastraykittenthatseemedindanger。
WesleydrewBillybacktothewalk，andheldhishandclosely。
\"Areyouready，Elnora?\"
\"Yes；youweregonealongtime，\"shesaid。
Wesleyglancedatapackageshecarried。\"Havetohaveanotherbook?\"heasked。
\"No，Iboughtthisformother。I\'vehadsuchsplendidlucksellingmyspecimens，Ididn\'tfeelrightaboutkeepingallthemoneyformyself，soIsavedenoughfromtheIndianrelicstogetafewthingsIwanted。Iwouldhavelikedtohavegottenheradress，butIdidn\'tdare，soI
compromisedonabook。\"
\"Whatdidyouselect，Elnora?\"askedWesleywonderingly。
\"Well，\"saidshe，\"IhavenoticedmotheralwaysseemedinterestedinanythingMarkTwainwroteinthenewspapers，andIthoughtitwouldcheerherupalittle，soIjustgothis`InnocentsAbroad。\'Ihaven\'treaditmyself，butI\'veseenmentionmadeofitallmylife，andthecriticssayit\'sgenuinefun。\"
\"Good!\"criedSinton。\"Good!You\'vemadeasplendidchoice。Itwilltakehermindoffherselfalot。Butshewillscoldyou。\"
\"Ofcourse，\"assentedElnora。\"But，possiblyshewillreadit，andfeelbetter。I\'mgoingtoserveheratrick。
IamgoingtohideituntilMonday，andsetitonherlittleshelfofbooksthelastthingbeforeIgoaway。Shemusthaveallofthembyheart。When，sheseesanewoneshecan\'thelpbeingglad，forshelovestoread，andifshehasalldaytobecomeinterested，maybeshe\'lllikeitsoshewon\'tscoldsomuch。\"
\"Wearebothinforit，butIguessweareprepared。
Idon\'tknowwhatMargaretwillsay，butI\'mgoingtotakeBillyhomeandsee。Maybehecanwinwithher，ashedidwithus。\"
Elnorahaddoubts，butshedidnotsayanythingmore。
WhentheystartedhomeBillysatonthefrontseat。
Hedrovewiththehitchingstraptiedtotherailingofthedash-board，flourishedthewhip，andyelledwithdelight。AtfirstSintonlaughedwithhim，butbythetimeheleftElnorawithseveralpackagesathergate，hewaslookingseriousenough。
Margaretwasatthedoorastheydroveupthelane。
WesleyleftBillyinthecarriage，hitchedthehorsesandwenttoexplaintoher。Hehadnotreachedherbeforeshecried，\"Look，Wesley，thatchild!You\'llhavearunaway!\"
Wesleylookedandran。Billywasstandinginthecarriageslashingthemettlesomehorseswiththewhip。
\"Seememake\'emgo!\"heshoutedasthewhipfellasecondtime。
Hedidmakethemgo。Theytookthehitchingpostandafewfencepalings，whichscrapedthepaintfromawheel。Sintonmissedthelinesatthefirsteffort，butthedraggingpostimpededthehorses，andhesooncaughtthem。Heledthemtothebarn，andorderedBillytoremaininthecarriagewhileheunhitched。ThenleadingBillyandcarryinghispackagesheenteredtheyard。
\"Yourunplayafewminutes，Billy，\"hesaid。\"Iwanttotalktothenicelady。\"
TheniceladywaslookingratherstupefiedasWesleyapproachedher。
\"Whereinthenameofsensedidyougetthatawfulchild?\"shedemanded。
\"HeisayounggentlemanwhohasbeenstoppingElnoraandeatingherluncheveryday，partofthetimewiththeassistanceofhisbrotherandsister，whileourgirlwenthungry。Brownleetoldmeaboutitatthestore。
It\'shappenedthreedaysrunning。Thefirsttimeshewentwithoutanything，thesecondtimeBrownlee\'sgirltookhertolunch，andthethirdacrowdofhighschoolgirlsboughtalotofstuffandmetthematthebridge。
Theyoungstersseemedtothinktheycouldrobhereveryday，soIwenttoseetheirfatherabouthavingitstopped。\"
\"Well，Ishouldthinkso!\"criedMargaret。
\"Therewerethreeofthem，Margaret，\"saidWesley，\"thatlittlefellow——\"
\"Hyena，youmean，\"interpolatedMargaret。
\"Hyena，\"correctedWesleygravely，\"andanotherboyandagirl，allequallydirtyandhungry。Themanwasdead。Theythoughthewasinadrunkensleep，buthewasstonedead。Ibroughtthelittleboywithme，andsenttheofficersandotherhelptothehouse。
He\'shalfstarved。Iwanttowashhim，andputcleanclothesonhim，andgivehimsomesupper。\"
\"Haveyougotanythingtoputonhim?\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Wheredidyougetit?\"
\"Boughtit。Itain\'tmuch。AllIgotdidn\'tcostadollar。\"
\"Adollarisagooddealwhenyouworkandsaveforitthewaywedo。\"
\"Well，Idon\'tknowabetterplacetoputit。Haveyougotanyhotwater?I\'llusethistubatthecistern。
Pleasegivemesomesoapandtowels。\"
InsteadMargaretpushedbyhimwithashriek。Billyhadplayedbyproducingacordfromhispocket，andhavingtiedthetailsofMargaret\'swhitekittenstogether，hehadclimbedonaboxandhungthemacrosstheclothesline。
Wildwithfrightthekittenswereclawingeachothertodeath，andtheairwaswhitewithfur。Thestringhadtwistedandthefrightenedcreaturescouldnotrecognizefriends。Margaretsteppedbackwithbleedinghands。
Sintoncutthecordwithhisknifeandthepoorlittlecatsracedunderthehousebleedinganddisfigured。
MargaretwhitewithwrathfacedWesley。
\"Ifyoudon\'thitchupandtakethatanimalbacktotown，\"shesaid，\"Iwill。\"
Billythrewhimselfonthegrassandbegantoscream。
\"YousaidIcouldhavefriedchickenforsupper，\"
hewailed。\"Yousaidshewasanicelady!\"
WesleyliftedhimandsomethinginhismannerofhandlingthechildinfuriatedMargaret。Histouchwassogentle。ShereachedforBillyandgrippedhisshirtcollarintheback。Wesley\'shandclosedoverhers。
\"Gently，girl!\"hesaid。\"Thislittlebodyiscoveredwithsores。\"
\"Sores!\"sheejaculated。\"Sores?Whatkindofsores?\"
\"Oh，theymightbefrombruisesmadebyfistsorboottoes，ortheymightbebadblood，fromwrongeating，ortheymightbepurefilth。Willyouhandmesometowels?\"
\"No，Iwon\'t!\"saidMargaret。
\"Well，givemesomerags，then。\"
Margaretcompromisedonpiecesofoldtablecloth。
WesleyledBillytothecistern，pumpedcoldwaterintothetub，pouredinakettleofhot，andbeginningattheheadscouredhim。Theboyshuthislittleteeth，andsaidneverawordthoughhetwistedoccasionallywhenthesoapstruckarawspot。Margaretwatchedtheprocessfromthewindowinamazedandever-increasinganger。
WheredidWesleylearnit?Howcouldhisbighandsbesogentle?Hecametothedoor。
\"Haveyougotanyperoxide?\"heasked。
\"Alittle，\"sheansweredstiffly。
\"Well，Ineedaboutapint，butI\'llbeginonwhatyouhave。\"
Margarethandedhimthebottle。Wesleytookacup，weakenedthedrugandsaidtoBilly:\"Man，thesesoresonyoumustbehealed。Thenyoumusteatthekindoffoodthat\'sfitforlittlemen。Iamgoingtoputsomemedicineonyou，anditisgoingtostinglikefire。Ifitjustrunsoff，Iwon\'tuseanymore。Ifitboils，thereispoisonintheseplaces，andtheymustbetiedup，dosedeveryday，andyoumustbewashed，andkeptmightyclean。
Now，holdstill，becauseIamgoingtoputiton。\"
\"Ithinktheoneonmylegistheworst，\"saidtheundauntedBilly，holdingoutarawplace。Sintonpouredonthedrug。
Billy\'sbodytwistedandwrithed，buthedidnotrun。
\"Gee，lookatitboil!\"hecried。\"Iguessthey\'spoison。
You\'llhavetodoittoallofthem。\"
Wesley\'steethwereset，ashewatchedtheboy\'sface。
Hepouredthedrug，strongenoughtodoeffectivework，onadozenplacesoverthatlittlebodyandbandagedallhecould。Billy\'slipsquiveredattimes，andhischinjumped，buthedidnotshedatearorutterasoundotherthantotakeadeepinterestintheboiling。AsWesleyputthesmallshirtontheboy，andfastenedthetrousers，hewasreadytoresetthehitchingpostandmendthefencewithoutaword。
\"NowamIclean?\"askedBilly。
\"Yes，youarecleanoutside，\"saidWesley。\"Thereissomedirtybloodinyourbody，andsomebadwordsinyourmouth，thatwehavetogetout，butthattakestime。
Ifweputrightthingstoeatintoyourstomachthatwilldoawaywiththesores，andifyouknowthatIdon\'tlikebadwordsyouwon\'tsaythemanyoftenerthanyoucanhelp，willyouBilly?\"
BillyleanedagainstWesleyinapparentindifference。
\"Iwanttoseeme!\"hedemanded。
Wesleyledtheboyintothehouse，andliftedhimtoamirror。
\"My，I\'mpurtygood-looking，ain\'tI?\"braggedBilly。
ThenasWesleystoopedtosethimonthefloorBilly\'slipspassedclosetothebigman\'searandhastilywhisperedavehement\"No!\"asheranforthedoor。
\"Howlonguntilsupper，Margaret?\"askedWesleyashefollowed。
\"Youaregoingtokeephimforsupper?\"sheasked\"Sure!\"saidWesley。\"That\'swhatIbroughthimfor。
It\'slikelyheneverhadagoodsquaremealofdecentfoodinhislife。He\'sstarvedtothebone。\"
Margaretarosedeliberately，removedthewhiteclothfromthesuppertableandsubstitutedanoldredonesheusedtowrapthebread。Sheputawaytheprettydishestheycommonlyusedandsetthetablewitholdplatesforpiesandkitchenutensils。Butshefriedthechicken，andwasgenerouswithmilkandhoney，snowybread，gravy，potatoes，andfruit。
Wesleyrepaintedthescratchedwheel。Hemendedthefence，withBillyholdingthenailsandhandingthepickets。
Thenhefilledtheoldhole，diggedanewoneandsetthehitchingpost。
Billyhoppedononefootathistaskofholdingthepoststeadyastheearthwaspackedaroundit。Therewasnottheshadowofatroubleonhislittlefreckledface。
Sintonthrewinstonesandpoundedtheearthsolidaroundthepost。ThesoundofagulpingsobattractedhimtoBilly。
Thetearswererollingdownhischeeks。\"IfI\'daknowedyou\'dhavetogetdowninahole，andworksohardI
wouldn\'t\'a\'hitthehorses，\"hesaid。
\"Neveryoumind，Billy，\"saidWesley。\"Youwillknownexttime，soyoucanthinkoverit，andmakeupyourmindwhetheryoureallywanttobeforeyoustrike。\"
Wesleywenttothebarntoputawaythetools。HethoughtBillywasathisheels，buttheboylaggedontheway。Abigsnowyturkeygobblerresentedthesmallintruderinhisespecialpreserves，andwithspreadtailanddraggingwingscametowardhimthreateningly。IfthatturkeygobblerhadknownthesortofthingswithwhichBillywasaccustomedtoholdinghisown，heneverwouldhaveissuedthechallenge。Billyacceptedinstantly。
Hedancedaroundwithstiffarmsathissidesandimitatedthegobbler。Thencamehisopportunity，andhejumpedonthebigturkey\'sback。WesleyheardMargaret\'sscreamintimetoseetheflyingleapandadmireitsdexterity。
Theturkeytuckeditstailandscampered。Billyslidfromitsbackandashefellheclutchedwildly，caughtthefoldedtail，andinstinctivelyclungtoit。Theturkeygaveonescreamandrelaxeditsmuscles。Thenitfledindisfigureddefeattothehaystack。Billyscrambledtohisfeetholdingthetail，whilehiseyeswerebulging。
\"Why，theblastedoldthingcameoff!\"hesaidtoWesley，holdingoutthetailinamazedwonder。
Theman，caughtsuddenly，forgoteverythingandroared。
Seeingwhich，Billythoughtaturkeytailofnoaccountandflungthatonehighabovehimshoutinginwildchildishlaughter，whenthefeathersscatteredandfell。
Margaret，watching，begantocry。Wesleyhadgonemad。
Forthefirsttimeinhermarriedlifeshewantedtotellhermother。WhenWesleyhadwaiteduntilhewassohungryhecouldwaitnolongerheinvadedthekitchentofindacookedsupperbakingonthebackofthestove，whileMargaretwithredeyesnursedapairofdemoralizedwhitekittens。
\"Issupperready?\"heasked。
\"Ithasbeenforanhour，\"answeredMargaret。
\"Whydidn\'tyoucallus?\"
That\"us\"hadtoomuchcomradeshipinit。ItirritatedMargaret。
\"Isupposeditwouldtakeyouevenlongerthanthistofixthingsdecentagain。Asformyturkey，andmypoorlittlekittens，theydon\'tmatter。\"
\"Iammightysorryaboutthem，Margaret，youknowthat。
Billyisverybright，andhewillsoonlearn——\"
\"Soonlearn!\"criedMargaret。\"WesleySinton，youdon\'tmeantosaythatyouthinkofkeepingthatcreaturehereforsometime?\"
\"No，Ithinkofkeepingawell-behavedlittleboy。\"
Margaretsetthesupperonthetable。SeeingtheoldredclothWesleystaredinamazement。Thenheunderstood。
Billycaperedaroundindelight。
\"Ain\'tthatpretty?\"heexulted。\"IwishJimmyandBellecouldsee。We，whyweisteatoutofourhandsoroffaolddrygoodsbox，andwhenwefixupalot，wehavenewspaper。Weain\'teverhadaniceredclothlikethis。\"
WesleylookedstraightatMargaret，sointentlythatsheturnedaway，herfaceflushing。Hestackedthedictionaryandthegeographyoftheworldonachair，andliftedBillybesidehim。Heheapedaplategenerously，cutthefood，putaforkintoBilly\'slittlefist，andmadehimeatslowlyandproperly。Billydidhisbest。Occasionallygreedovercamehim，andheusedhislefthandtopopabiteintohismouthwithhisfingers。TheselapsesWesleypatientlyoverlooked，andwentonwithhisgeneralinstructions。
LuckilyBillydidnotspillanythingonhisclothingorthecloth。AftersupperWesleytookhimtothebarnwhilehefinishedthenightwork。ThenhewentandsatbesideMargaretonthefrontporch。Billyappropriatedthehammock，andswungbypullingaropetiedaroundatree。
TheveryenergywithwhichhewentattheworkofswinginghimselfappealedtoWesley。
\"Mercy，buthe\'sanactivelittlebody，\"hesaid。
\"Thereisn\'talazyboneinhim。Seehowheworkstopayforhisfun。\"
