do believe that's it! Asy's got a call from beyond!"

The three sisters began to cry.

"Puffickly ridiklus!" said Asa's father. "Purfickly ridiklus.
That hoot owl ain't got no grudge 'gainst Asa. He's got some new
Scout bee in his bunnit, I'll bet. Don't know but I like to see
a boy make of his wimmin folks, at that. It never looks soft to
me. Don't hurt no man."

He lifted the smallest girl to his knee. She looked frightened
but after a moment cuddled up to her father, and tucked a warm
little hand around his neck.

"Don't hurt no man," repeated Asa's father and held the little
girl so closely that she fell happily asleep; while Asa's mother,
working like a whirlwind, thought the night's work strangely
light, with the warmth of her only son's kiss on her check.

Asa went cantering down the hill to meet the Potters, and
together they strolled over to Wugs' house, that house of
unhappiness where the brightest, happiest member of the household
lay gazing at the sky or for hours playing with the kitten. He
did not know the boys, but when Wugs told him who they were, he
greeted them pleasantly enough.

It was very painful, and the boys slipped away as soon as they
could and, followed by Wugs, went down to the edge of the lawn,
and talked things over. Wugs could scarcely leave home at all.
He wanted to enlist; he was nearly old enough, and now that