"Wh-who's going first?" asked Violet, regarding the gloomy bulk of the rambling old house, now half hidden in the dusk, with troubled eyes.
"I am, of course," said Billie stoutly, adding with a gay little laugh: "I guess it's my right, isn't it? Why, this is my house—the first I've ever owned!"
"And welcome you be to it," murmured the old man, to be promptly cowed by a withering look from Mrs. Gilligan.
"Come on," cried Billie again. "I'll go first, but you'll have to promise to follow me in."
"Why, of course we'll follow you in," said Violet, loyal through all her fear. "You don't suppose we'd let you go into that awful place alone, do you?"
"Well, I like that!" cried Billie, leading the way up the stone-paved walk. "Calling my beautiful old homestead an awful place."
"Yes, I'm surprised at you, Vi," added Laura, as she followed close at Billie's heels. "Don't you know you should have some tact? Even if it is awful, you shouldn't talk about it—"
Billie stopped and stared indignantly.
"If you say another word," she threatened, "I'll make you go first."
The threat had the desired effect, and both Violet and Laura protested that it was the most beautiful place on the face of the earth, or words to that effect.