Suiting the action to the word Jimmy climbed the fence, and the two little boys were soon comfortably settled facing each other in the big lawn-swing.
“Who lives over there?” asked Billy, pointing to the house across the street.
“That's Miss Cecilia's house. That's her coming out of the front gate now.”
The young lady smiled and waved her hand at them.
“Ain't she a peach?” asked Jimmy. “She's my sweetheart and she is 'bout the swellest sweetheart they is.”
“She's mine, too,” promptly replied Billy, who had fallen in love at first sight. “I's a-goin' to have her fer my sweetheart too.”
“Naw, she ain't yours, neither; she's mine,” angrily declared the other little boy, kicking his rival's legs. “You all time talking 'bout you going to have Miss Cecilia for your sweetheart. She's done already promised me.”
“I'll tell you what,” proposed Billy, “lemme have her an' you can have Aunt Minerva.”
“I wouldn't have Miss Minerva to save your life,” replied Jimmy disrespectfully, “her nake ain't no bigger 'n that,” making a circle of his thumb and forefinger. “Miss Cecilia, Miss Cecilia,” he shrieked tantalizingly, “is my sweetheart.”
“I'll betcher I have her fer a sweetheart soon as ever I see her,” said Billy.