Part 12 (1/2)

”Jill.”

”He wished that his was Jack, not--”

”Will.”

”For people sometimes called him--”

”Bill.”

”This really was a bitter--”

”Pill.”

”And made him feel both vexed and--”

”Ill.” Mother had to tell them that, because they both guessed sick.

”He brought his gun along to--”

”Kill.”

”A bird to give to Jill a--”

”Quill?” Ethelwyn guessed after a long time.

”They lingered long, they lingered--”

”Till,” and again mother had to tell them this.

”The sun went down and all was--”

”Still.”

They had both missed one, so they each had to pay a forfeit or get up a game.

But they were now within sight of Grandmother Van Stark's fine old colonial house, and there on the porch stood grandmother herself, who had seen them coming, so had come out to meet them.

”Oh isn't our grandmother pretty though?” said Ethelwyn, as they turned in at the circular driveway. She had snow white hair, dark eyes and a very stately carriage.

She welcomed them warmly, and invited them into the grand old hall with its white staircase and mahogany rail.

Modern children seemed almost out of place in this old-time house.

”I always seem to think you need short-waisted frocks, and drooping hats like Sir Joshua Reynolds's, and the Gainsborough pictures,” said their mother laughing.

”O may we go up to the attic and dress up?” begged Ethelwyn.

”After while,” said grandmother. ”It is luncheon time now. I am glad you came to-day, my daughter, for Nancy, the housemaid, has gone home for a week's rest, and there is a meeting of the women of the church this afternoon to arrange about a rummage sale, and a loan exhibition, and they are rather depending upon me to contribute to both; but as Nancy is away, I cannot well leave for I am a little overtired with more duties than usual. So I have made a list of things that I will lend, and give.

I should like you to take it down.”