“Did he say what it was like?” asked Peter.

“No—­only that it was a picture of God, walking in the garden of Eden.”

“Oh,” whispered Felicity—­we all spoke in low tones on the subject, for, by instinct and training, we thought and uttered the Great Name with reverence, in spite of our devouring curiosity—­“oh, would Jerry Cowan bring it to school and let us see it?”

“I asked him that, soon as ever he told me,” said Felix.  “He said he might, but he couldn’t promise, for he’d have to ask his mother if he could bring the book to school.  If she’ll let him he’ll bring it to-morrow.”

“Oh, I’ll be almost afraid to look at it,” said Sara Ray tremulously.

I think we all shared her fear to some extent.  Nevertheless, we went to school the next day burning with curiosity.  And we were disappointed.  Possibly night had brought counsel to Jerry Cowan; or perhaps his mother had put him up to it.  At all events, he announced to us that he couldn’t bring the red-covered history to school, but if we wanted to buy the picture outright he would tear it out of the book and sell it to us for fifty cents.

We talked the matter over in serious conclave in the orchard that evening.  We were all rather short of hard cash, having devoted most of our spare means to the school library fund.  But the general consensus of opinion was that we must have the picture, no matter what pecuniary sacrifices were involved.  If we could each give about seven cents we would have the amount.  Peter could only give four, but Dan gave eleven, which squared matters.

“Fifty cents would be pretty dear for any other picture, but of course this is different,” said Dan.

“And there’s a picture of Eden thrown in, too, you know,” added Felicity.

“Fancy selling God’s picture,” said Cecily in a shocked, awed tone.

“Nobody but a Cowan would do it, and that’s a fact,” said Dan.

“When we get it we’ll keep it in the family Bible,” said Felicity.  “That’s the only proper place.”

“Oh, I wonder what it will be like,” breathed Cecily.

We all wondered.  Next day in school we agreed to Jerry Cowan’s terms, and Jerry promised to bring the picture up to Uncle Alec’s the following afternoon.

We were all intensely excited Saturday morning.  To our dismay, it began to rain just before dinner.

“What if Jerry doesn’t bring the picture to-day because of the rain?” I suggested.

“Never you fear,” answered Felicity decidedly.  “A Cowan would come through anything for fifty cents.”

After dinner we all, without any verbal decision about it, washed our faces and combed our hair.  The girls put on their second best dresses, and we boys donned white collars.  We all had the unuttered feeling that we must do such honour to that Picture as we could.  Felicity and Dan began a small spat over something, but stopped at once when Cecily said severely,