and she was to slip off while the puppies were eating, and join them.

They had only waited a few minutes when Diddie came running down the
road, and behind her (unknown to her) came Old Billy.

"Oh, what made you bring him?" asked Dumps, as Diddie came up.

"I didn't know he was comin'," replied Diddie, "but he won't hurt:
he'll just eat grass all about, and we needn't notice him."

"Yes, he will hurt," said Dumps; "he behaves jus' dreadful, an' I
don't want ter go, neither, ef he's got ter be er comin'."

"Well-- I know he shall come," retorted Diddie. "You jes don't like
him 'cause he's gettin' old. I'd be ashamed to turn against my friends
like that. When he was little and white, you always wanted to be er
playin' with him; an' now, jes 'cause he ain't pretty, you don't want
him to come anywhere, nor have no fun nor nothin'; yes-- he shall
come; an' ef that's the way you're goin' to do, I'm goin' right back
to the house, an' tell Mammy you've all slipped off, an' she'll come
right after you, an' then you won't get to play on the lumber."

Diddie having taken this decided stand, there was nothing for it but
to let Old Billy be of the party; and peace being thus restored, the
children continued their way, and were soon on the lumber-pile. Diddie
at once opened her hotel. Chris was the chambermaid, Riar was the
waiter, and Dilsey was the man to take the omnibus down for the
passengers. Dumps and Tot, who were to be the boarders, withdrew to
the gin-house steps, which was to be the depot, to await the arrival
of the omnibus.