"Bumps must go and ask cook for some; she'll always give her anything."
Away ran Bumps. Jack began to take a keener interest in it.
"Are you going to get very good, Jill?" he asked, looking at his sister critically.
"No," said Jill, "I'm quite sure, however much I want to be good, I shall always be very wicked. But, Jack, I've quite made up my mind to walk to the Golden City; I began the day before yesterday."
"Have you been through the river?" asked Jack in an awed whisper.
"I'm not going to talk about it," said Jill. "Miss Falkner helped me when I was in bed to start right. I'm not quite sure about the road, but I think I'm on it. And anyhow I'm quite determined to give a tenth. Now here comes Bumps. Hooray! She's got the oil!" Jill capered with delight, then checked herself. "I'm going to be properly solemn," she said, "for it isn't a game at all, it's a—a—vow!"
She arranged the stones a little more carefully.
"This will have to stay just as it is for years and years and years, in fact for ever," Jill announced. "When I'm an old woman with a stick and a cap I shall be led out here by all my great-grandchildren, and I shall look back and remember this day."
"That sounds lovely," said Jack admiringly. "Do begin, here's the oil!"
Jill took the bottle, but first she marshalled Jack and Bumps to a respectful distance from her altar.