Philip leaned toward Mrs. Comstock and said:  “I am expressly forbidden to speak to Elnora as I would like.  Would you mind telling her for me that I had a letter from my father this morning saying that Miss Carr is on her way to Europe for the summer?”

“Elnora,” said Mrs. Comstock promptly, “I have just heard that Carr woman is on her way to Europe, and I wish to my gracious stars she’d stay there!”

Philip Ammon shouted, but Elnora arose hastily and went to meet Billy.  They came into the arbour together and after speaking to Mrs. Comstock and Philip, Billy said:  “Uncle Wesley and I found something funny, and we thought you’d like to see.”

“I don’t know what I should do without you and Uncle Wesley to help me,” said Elnora.  “What have you found now?”

“Something I couldn’t bring.  You have to come to it.  I tried to get one and I killed it.  They are a kind of insecty things, and they got a long tail that is three fine hairs.  They stick those hairs right into the hard bark of trees, and if you pull, the hairs stay fast and it kills the bug.”

“We will come at once,” laughed Elnora.  “I know what they are, and I can use some in my work.”

“Billy, have you been crying?” inquired Mrs. Comstock.

Billy lifted a chastened face.  “Yes, ma’am,” he replied.  “This has been the worst day.”

“What’s the matter with the day?”

“The day is all right,” admitted Billy.  “I mean every single thing has gone wrong with me.”

“Now that is too bad!” sympathized Mrs. Comstock.

“Began early this morning,” said Billy.  “All Snap’s fault, too.”

“What has poor Snap been doing?” demanded Mrs. Comstock, her eyes beginning to twinkle.

“Digging for woodchucks, like he always does.  He gets up at two o’clock to dig for them.  He was coming in from the woods all tired and covered thick with dirt.  I was going to the barn with the pail of water for Uncle Wesley to use in milking.  I had to set down the pail to shut the gate so the chickens wouldn’t get into the flower beds, and old Snap stuck his dirty nose into the water and began to lap it down.  I knew Uncle Wesley wouldn’t use that, so I had to go ’way back to the cistern for more, and it pumps awful hard.  Made me mad, so I threw the water on Snap.”

“Well, what of it?”

“Nothing, if he’d stood still.  But it scared him awful, and when he’s afraid he goes a-humping for Aunt Margaret.  When he got right up against her he stiffened out and gave a big shake.  You oughter seen the nice blue dress she had put on to go to Onabasha!”

Mrs. Comstock and Philip laughed, but Elnora put her arms around the boy.  “Oh Billy!” she cried.  “That was too bad!”

“She got up early and ironed that dress to wear because it was cool.  Then, when it was all dirty, she wouldn’t go, and she wanted to real bad.”  Billy wiped his eyes.  “That ain’t all, either,” he added.