“What in the world are you doing, Billy?” asked Ellen, stopping short.
He came prancing up, glee written on his rosy face. “Now they’re married,” he exclaimed joyfully; “they’ve had a wetting.”
Ellen turned with a puzzled look to Mr. Todd, who threw back his head and shouted with laughter. “Don’t you understand?” he said. “Dovey means a wedding.”
“Yes,” Billy nodded cheerfully; “they’ve had a wetting, so they’re married.” He slipped his small hand into Ellen’s and looked smilingly up at her. “My mamma is going to a wetting next week; she said so; it is going to be in the church. I wish she’d take me. Do you think they’ll sing about Sara Phim?”
“Ask Mr. Todd; he can tell all about the music, you know.”
“Will they sing about Sara Phim?” asked Billy, turning his attention to the organist.
“Not this time,” was the response.
By now they had reached Mr. Todd’s gate. Hearing Lucilena’s terrifying threat that if he didn’t come home a-bilin’ she’d skin him alive, Billy dashed on while Ellen lingered a moment by the gate. “Such a fanciful little monkey as he is,” she said. “I must tell Cousin Rindy about the wetting; she loves Billy’s funny little sayings. You won’t forget, will you, Mr. Todd, to think up some way that I can earn some money or do something for Cousin Rindy? I am in dead earnest.”
“I won’t forget.”
Ellen nodded, waved her hand, and passed on. Mr. Todd opened the gate and went in. Half-way up the walk he stopped short. “I believe I have it,” he exclaimed. “To be sure. Why not? I’ll find out to-morrow.” Then he went on.