"He doesn't like the butcher boy nor the man that drives the mill wagon, nor the man that brings the laundry. He always runs out and barks at them."
"Have you asked any of them about him?"
"No, not yet."
"Then I'll tell you what let's do, girls," proposed Esther Ann. "Two of us can go around by the mill, two of us can go to the butcher's and Alcinda can go to the laundry place."
"All right," exclaimed Alcinda hopefully. "It would be lovely if you all would do that."
"I speak to go to the butcher's," spoke up Esther Ann. She was always ready to arrange affairs for everyone. "Reliance, you and Edna can go to the mill; it isn't such a very great way, and Reba can go with me."
The girls all accepted this arrangement and set off in the three different directions.
"Do you like going to the mill?" asked Edna when she and Reliance were fairly on their way.
"Oh, yes, much better than going to the butcher's. Although it is quite a little further, it is a much prettier walk. I always did like mill ponds, didn't you, Edna?"
"Why, I don't know much about them, but I should think I would like them. Do we turn off here?"