"That's so," agreed Billy. "We won't tell yet. I like that little fellow with the spots; see him nose my hand."
"I like the one with brown ears like its mother," declared Ruth. "When will they have their eyes open, Billy?"
"Not for nine or ten days yet. There's Aunt Hester calling; we will have to go. Don't say a word till supper time."
Not a word was said to Miss Hester just then, although Billy grew very red when she asked what they were doing in the wood-shed, but he rose to the occasion by answering: "Oh, just playing."
Later on, when Ruth was setting the table, she drew Miss Hester into telling about her childhood days.
"And did you have Bruno then?" asked Ruth.
"Not then, but we had another dog named Stray, a smaller dog."
"That's a nice name for a dog," commented Billy with satisfaction.
"You'd like to name one that, wouldn't you?" said Ruth with a little laugh which she smothered when Billy frowned at her.
"Tell about Stray," said the boy.