Billy meant that it had been!
"Pilot!" the children cried, looking at one another.
"That's what mother used to scold about Rex doing," Peggy recalled.
"Why couldn't he eat my old ones!" groaned Billy, throwing the leather off into some bushes. He felt troubled--he remembered that he had left the shoes out on the floor of his dressing room. It was all his fault, but Pilot would be blamed!
"What can we do?" asked Keineth, sensing a tragedy.
"I don't care anything about the shoes," answered Billy, "'cause I'd just as soon wear these old ones as not--what d' I care about shoes? But mother'll say that we can't keep the dog!"
"He's only on trial--" Peggy broke in sadly.
"If you girls could keep it a secret we'd give Pilot another chance--"
"Alice is sure to tell! She can't keep anything!"
"I can keep a secret! You just try me!"