They went away together hand in hand, children-wise, up the lane
of spruces crossed with bars of moonlight. And there was peace
over all that fresh and flowery land, and peace in our little
hearts.



CHAPTER VI. THE MYSTERY OF GOLDEN MILESTONE

Paddy was smeared with medicated lard the next day, all of us
assisting at the rite, although the Story Girl was high
priestess. Then, out of regard for mats and cushions, he was
kept in durance vile in the granary until he had licked his fur
clean. This treatment being repeated every day for a week, Pat
recovered his usual health and spirits, and our minds were set at
rest to enjoy the next excitement--collecting for a school
library fund.

Our teacher thought it would be an excellent thing to have a
library in connection with the school; and he suggested that each
of the pupils should try to see how much money he or she could
raise for the project during the month of June. We might earn it
by honest toil, or gather it in by contributions levied on our
friends.

The result was a determined rivalry as to which pupil should
collect the largest sum; and this rivalry was especially intense
in our home coterie.

Our relatives started us with a quarter apiece. For the rest, we