"Well, she isn't," responded Miss Billy coolly, "and I'm hoping to finish this walk before she gets back. You'd better go in, Bea. The chips may hit you."
"Although through life she'd stride and stalk,
She put some boards in father's walk,"
chanted Theodore, looking over the fence; "Goodness, Miss Billy, have you done this much yourself? You are not only a model of industry, but a talented carpenter. I suppose now I'll have to acknowledge my defeat, and come and finish the job."
"You certainly will not have to finish the job," retorted Miss Billy, "although I shall be glad to hear your humble apology."
"Don't you want any help?"
"No," returned his sister stoutly.
"I'm sorry," said Theodore, hanging his coat on the fence, "for I'll have to work 'agin your will.' It isn't that I distrust your ability, Miss Billy, but I should hate to have the neighbours say 'Look at that poor Lee girl laying a walk to save her brother's white and shapely hands.'"
Miss Billy heaved a sigh of relief. "I have to confess that I shall be glad of your help," she said. "I know now what it means to go 'agin the grain.' Every one of those boards grew in that way."
"Sit on the curbstone and boss the job," commanded Theodore, "while your talented brother performs on the saw for a while. Miss Billy, in spite of all that flumpy motion of yours, I am still proud of you. You haven't much in the way of gait, but you have lots of grit."
The last visitor was John Thomas, who was returning from the grocery. He stopped at the sight of Theodore, who was driving nails and fitting boards, and sending Miss Billy into gales of laughter with his droll remarks.