I'll
hitch up 'Old Prince' and drive you over, if you say. Or, we might find
some neighbor woman to come here to live with us, if you prefer."
"You don't like my housekeeping, then?" asked Betty Jo.
"Like it!" exclaimed Brian; and the tone of his voice approached the
danger-point.
Betty Jo said quickly: "I'll tell you exactly what I think, Mr. Burns:
Auntie Sue said we were to be good children, and take care of things
until she returned. She did not say for me to shirk my part by going to
neighbor Tom's or by having any one come here. Don't you think we can do
exactly what Auntie Sue said?"
"Yes," returned Brian, heartily; "I am sure we can. And do you
know,--come to think about it,--I believe the dear old lady would be
disappointed in us both if we dodged our--well,--" he finished with
emphasis,--"our responsibilities."
And after that, somehow, the evening on the porch went as well as the
breakfast and dinner and supper had gone.
It was the second day of their housekeeping that Betty Jo noticed
smoke coming from the stone chimney of the clubhouse up the river. She
reported her observation to Brian when he came in from his work for
dinner. During the afternoon, they both saw boats on the quiet waters of
The Bend, and at supper told each other what they had seen. And in the
evening they together watched the twinkling lights of the clubhouse
windows, and once they heard voices and laughter from somewhere on the
river as though a boating party were making merry.
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