“No, not that I know of; but one can never tell what might happen. The bus line will run along the main road past our lane this summer, I understand; and some tourist might take a fancy to the little cabin and want to buy it. I suppose if enough money were spent on a search, it might be possible to establish the title; or someone who wanted it badly enough might be willing to take a chance. I don’t mean to worry you unduly, Desiré, but we mustn’t get so attached to the place that having to give it up sometime will come as a great shock.”
Her brother’s words came back to her mind many times that day as she went about her household tasks. Of course they mightn’t want to live right here always. Jack must finish college, as they planned; but she wanted to go through high school; and after that, the magical trip to the States, where Jack might find his life-work. How many times they had gone over it all! At the rate money had come in so far, however, it would take many years to realize any of these day dreams, to say nothing of all of them. It seemed, no matter how careful she tried to be, to take so much money to feed and clothe them; and if somebody should claim the cabin—well, she’d better not think about that any more just now.
Late in the afternoon, when the lane was getting shadowy, the girls and René were sitting on the broad stone step watching for Jack. The sound of an approaching automobile broke the country stillness, and Judge Herbine’s Ford presently stopped. Jack got out, followed by a big, awkward-looking brown dog. With one wild shriek, René dashed down the lane and threw his arms around the animal’s neck. The judge waved to the girls, and drove away laughing.
“I’ve got a dog! I’ve got a dog!” chanted René, dragging the big beast toward the house.
“He’s perfectly gentle, for all his size,” said Jack in reply to Desiré’s questioning look. “But René, you must be kind to the dog, and never hurt him.”
“Where in the world did you get him?” demanded Priscilla, who did not like any dog very well, and especially a big one.
“The judge found him somewhere off in the country,” replied Jack, sitting down on the step which was much too low for his long legs.
“He is hardly a beauty,” observed Desiré, watching René mauling his new friend.
“No, but he’s always been used to children, and the judge thought that a good recommendation. Of course he’s awkward, and probably mischievous; for he’s not yet full grown—”
“Don’t tell me he will get bigger!” groaned Desiré. “Where shall we ever put him?”