And all right they were. One morning William Brown announced, at breakfast, that the turnips and parsnips were showing above the ground. Before going to school Billy had a look at them. What tiny plants they were! After that, other vegetables, such as carrots, beets, and onions, were not long in appearing, and, once above ground, they grew apace.
One afternoon Billy arrived home to tea, carefully carrying a small pot containing a marrow plant, a gift from the postmaster. After tea, under the directions of his grandfather, he tilled the marrow plant out.
"Uncle John has given Harold one, too, Grandfer," he said; "so we're going to see which of us can grow the biggest marrow. The plants are as alike as two plants can possibly be."
"John Dingle took the prize for marrows at the vegetable show last year," William Brown remarked.
"Yes, he told me," Billy answered, adding; "He says he should like one of us boys to win the prize this year. We both mean to try."
Accordingly he gave his plant every care and attention, shielding it from the too fierce rays of the sun before it had properly rooted, and watering it regularly. He was delighted with the quickness of its growth. When it came into flower his grandfather advised him which flowers to take off and which to let remain. He often called at the post office to tell John Dingle how well the plant was doing. On one of these occasions, hearing that May and Harold had gone to the allotment field, he followed them there.
Harold was weeding in his father's garden when Billy arrived at the allotment field Billy examined his marrow plant, which seemed in just the same flourishing condition as his own, and then went in search of May, who had wandered off to the river. He found her on the river's bank. She turned a bright, happy face to him as he approached, and, with her finger on her lip, whispered—
"Hush! There's a dip-chick's nest! I'm watching the baby dip-chicks!"
She pointed to a clump of grasses growing beneath the overhanging bank opposite. Close by three baby dip-chicks were disporting themselves in the water, whilst their mother swam around them, keeping guard.
"Aren't they sweet little things?" whispered May. "Oh, look, there's their father! What a hurry he's in!"