announced to us that he couldn't bring the red-covered history to
school, but if we wanted to buy the picture outright he would
tear it out of the book and sell it to us for fifty cents.

We talked the matter over in serious conclave in the orchard that
evening. We were all rather short of hard cash, having devoted
most of our spare means to the school library fund. But the
general consensus of opinion was that we must have the picture,
no matter what pecuniary sacrifices were involved. If we could
each give about seven cents we would have the amount. Peter
could only give four, but Dan gave eleven, which squared matters.

"Fifty cents would be pretty dear for any other picture, but of
course this is different," said Dan.

"And there's a picture of Eden thrown in, too, you know," added
Felicity.

"Fancy selling God's picture," said Cecily in a shocked, awed
tone.

"Nobody but a Cowan would do it, and that's a fact," said Dan.

"When we get it we'll keep it in the family Bible," said
Felicity. "That's the only proper place."

"Oh, I wonder what it will be like," breathed Cecily.

We all wondered. Next day in school we agreed to Jerry Cowan's
terms, and Jerry promised to bring the picture up to Uncle Alec's