Eleazer swallowed hard. He would better have clung to the spring. He saw that now. He would retrace his steps.
"Spring is nice," he agreed. "With the birds a-buildin' their nests, an'—"
At last he was back on familiar ground.
"I did not realize you were so much interested in birds, Eleazer," Marcia exclaimed. "I have a fine bird book I must lend you. It's in the other room. I'll fetch it."
Springing up, she disappeared.
"Drat it!" murmured Eleazer. "Could anything be more exasperatin'? An' me neither knowin' nor carin' a hang whether a bird's a robin or a sparrow. Just when I was gettin' the way paved so nice, too." He wandered to the window. "Oh, heavens, who's this comin'? If it ain't 'Lish Winslow! Now what in thunder does he want, buttin' in? He's walkin' like as if the evil one was at his heels."
Eleazer threw open the door.
Before he could speak, however, Elisha puffing and out of breath bawled:
"Where in the name of goodness did you put the engine-house key, Eleazer? Whipple's hen house is afire an' we've hunted high an' low for it."
Eleazer purpled.