jest set still on the river-bank an' hev 'em cook victuals for me. I'd hev
nothin' to wish for then but a mouth as big as the Saco's."

"And I wish this custard pie was the size o' Bonnie Eagle Pond," said Ike
Billings. "I'd like to fall into the middle of it and eat my way out!"

"Look at that bunch o' Chiny asters tied on t' the bail o' that biscuit-pail!"
said Ivory Dunn. "That's the girl's doin's, you bet; women-folks don't seem to
make no bo'quets after they git married. Let's divide 'em up an' wear 'em
drivin' this afternoon; mebbe they'll ketch the eye so 't our rags won't show
so bad. Land! it's lucky my hundred days is about up! If I don't git home
soon, I shall be arrested for goin' without clo'es. I set up 'bout all night
puttin' these blue patches in my pants an' tryin' to piece together a couple
of old red-flannel shirts to make one whole one. That's the worst o' drivin'
in these places where the pretty girls make a habit of comin' down to the
bridge to see the fun. You hev to keep rigged up jest so stylish; you can't
git no chance at the rum bottle, an' you even hev to go a leetle mite light on
swearin'."



IV

"Blasphemious Swearin'"

"Steve Waterman's an awful nice feller," exclaimed Ivory Dunn just then.
Stephen had been looking intently across the river, watching the Shapleys'
side door, from which Rose might issue at any moment; and at this point in the
discussion he had lounged away from the group, and, moving toward the bridge,
began to throw pebbles idly into the water.