"Oh, never, Billy, that would hurt Antoine's feelings. We mustn't even hint about getting drunk and such things, but I will do as you say about having a short pledge, and we'll trim it with pictures."
"Make pictures of bottles and things, Betty."
"Oh, stop, Billy, I should say not! Birds and flowers will be better, and won't hurt Antoine's feelings. Don't you understand? Then we'll tie a red ribbon on it."
It so happened that Billy's mother, not sharing the children's secret, wouldn't allow them to visit the Frenchman's home, and it was not until the ice stretched from shore to shore, and Antoine began his winter fishing, that their opportunity came. After school one night, they visited his fish shanty on the frozen straits.
"Come in," said Antoine, in response to Betty's knock, "come in."
"Oh, my, what a tiny place!" exclaimed Betty, "and how warm it is! too warm! Oh, my!"
"Smells fishy and tarry," added Billy, holding his nose.
"Hush!" warned Betty, fearing Antoine might be offended.
"Warm!" repeated the man, laughing heartily; "the preacher she was here, and I ain't want it to stay, so I make it warm, and she ain't stay long."
"Why did the minister come to see you?" asked Betty.