"How do you tell how much water to put in?" asked Ruth.
"Oh, we learned that by experience," said Bob. You see the mixer has a tank on top that holds the right amount, but this may be varied if you like. The concrete must be wet enough so that it quakes, but not thin enough to run like water."
"Let me put in the water next time, Bob, won't you?" she asked. "Say,
Aunt Bettie, may I help Bob mix his concrete?"
"You better come to the house and help me," replied her aunt laughing.
"Bob and Tony, I'm afraid, would only find you in the way."
"All right," said Ruth, "but on Monday I'll help you, Bob," and she started for the house with her aunt and cousin, the latter Bob now recalled had not spoken a single word, beyond the introduction.
"I'm going to help Bob mix concrete on Monday, Uncle Joe," said Ruth at supper that night. "I know how it's done. You take four parts of cement, two of sand and one part of gravel, and put them in the, 'What do you call it, Bob?'"
"Drum," said Bob.
"Yes, drum," repeated Ruth. "You see, Uncle Joe, I know how to mix it."
"You use only one part of cement, Ruth," corrected her cousin, "and two of sand and four of gravel."
Bob glanced up quickly at this clear statement of the facts, and for the first time looked directly into the brown eyes of Edith Atwood.