"We'll see," Mrs. Lee concluded.
But that evening Pilot sealed his own doom!
For, as the children were playing croquet near the veranda, he came running across the lawn and triumphantly dropped at Billy's feet a beautiful gold fish, quite dead!
"Oh--oh--oh!" screamed Alice.
"It's from Sawyer's pond!" cried Peggy on her knees.
"The poor little thing." Keineth lifted it. "It's dead!"
"It's their new Japanese gold fish," added Barbara, who, with Mrs. Lee, had come down the steps from the veranda. "You'll have to pay for this, Billy!"
"I think this is the last straw," said Mrs. Lee sternly, turning to her husband.
"Oh, Mammy, he couldn't help it--they swim round and he thinks they are playing!" Peggy implored.
Pilot, standing back, his tail wagging slowly, regarded them with wondering, disappointed eyes. He had felt so very proud of his fish and now his family seemed to look upon him with displeasure.