"You dare never wear gold rings," Phares told her.
"Not now," she returned, "but some day when I'm older mebbe I'll wear a lot of 'em if I want."
The words set the boys thinking. Each wondered what manner of woman their little playmate would become.
"I bet she'll be a good-looking one," thought David. "She'd look swell dressed up fine like some of the people I see in town."
"Of course she'll turn plain some day like her aunt," thought the other boy. "She'll look nice in the plain dress and the white cap."
Phœbe, ignorant of the visions her innocent words had called to the hearts of her comrades, chattered on until they reached the little green gate of the Metz farm.
"Now you two must climb the hill yet. I'm glad I'm home. I'm hungry."
"And me," the boys answered, and with good-byes were off on the winding road up the hill.
As Phœbe turned the corner of the big gray house she came face to face with her father.
"So here you are, Phœbe," he said, smiling at sight of her. "Your Aunt Maria sent me out to look if you were coming. It's time to eat. Been to the store, ain't?"