"Come over to the barn, Bob," said his uncle after considering the matter a moment, "and tell me just what they said."
They went over and sat on the fence on the south side of the barn from which point of vantage they could see the pond.
Bob now described in detail all that he had overheard, his uncle interrupting from time to time to ask questions. When he had finished they sat in silence for quite a while, then his uncle jumped down from the fence and turning to Bob said:
"Come on, Bob, let's go' down and see how we can drain the old pond. I'll make a bargain with you now. Your father told you I'd be willing to pay you what you could earn. Well, that goes, and if you leave it to me, I'll settle square with you in the fall, but there's one thing I want you to do and that's to promise me you won't tell a soul about this matter, and you and I'll make some of them around here sit up and take notice before we get through."
"I'll promise," said Bob, "if you'll let me make one exception."
"Why, who's that?" asked his uncle, surprised at his answer.
"Aunt Bettie," said Bob.
His uncle was touched by the thought that Bob was not willing to exclude his new aunt-to-be from participating in what would probably be her greatest joy—the success of her husband.
"You don't know her yet, Bob," he said.
"No," replied Bob, "but grandmother described her to me and I know I'm going to like her."