for a couple o' days!"

Symptoms of truculence at once became alarmingly pronounced on both
sides. William was naturally incensed, and as for Mr. Bullitt, he had
endured a great deal from William every evening since Miss Pratt's
arrival. William's evening clothes were hard enough for both Mr. Watson
and Mr. Bullitt to bear, without any additional insolence on the part
of the wearer. Big Bruvva Josie-Joe took a step toward his enemy and
breathed audibly.

"Let's ALL sing," the tactful Miss Pratt proposed, hastily. "Come on,
May and Cousin Johnnie-Jump-Up," she called to Miss Parcher and Mr.
Watson. "Singin'-school, dirls an' boys! Singin'-school! Ding, ding!
Singin'-school bell's a-wingin'!"

The diversion was successful. Miss Parcher and Mr. Watson joined the
other group with alacrity, and the five young people were presently
seated close together upon the steps of the porch, sending their voices
out upon the air and up to Mr. Parcher's window in the song they found
loveliest that summer.

Miss Pratt carried the air. William also carried it part of the time
and hunted for it the rest of the time, though never in silence. Miss
Parcher "sang alto," Mr. Bullitt "sang bass," and Mr. Watson "sang
tenor"--that is, he sang as high as possible, often making the top sound
of a chord and always repeating the last phrase of each line before the
others finished it. The melody was a little too sweet, possibly; while
the singers thought so highly of the words that Mr. Parcher missed not
one, especially as the vocal rivalry between Josie-Joe and Ickle Boy
Baxter incited each of them to prevent Miss Pratt from hearing the