that to keep them from straying into our neighbor's pastures; but I tell
you now, we promised Teresa to return at nine o'clock, and I'm not going to
disobey her."

Then it was that I joined in on the side of Louis. "If you're always going
to obey Teresa, you'll never have a quiet moment."

"Then are you, too, going to stay with Louis?" Paula asked sadly.

"Of course," cried Louis, without giving me time to reply. "And now, go if
you wish and leave us in peace. Get out of the way!"

Paula, who was seated on the lowest rung of the ladder, immediately stepped
aside and soon Louis was on the wall.

"Now, it's your turn," he called to me. I followed my brother as Paula
slowly moved away up the garden walk.

"I'm going back with Paula," I said to Louis. Then from the top of the
wall, I saw her turn her head for one last look.

"Oh, let her go!" said Louis. "She can find her own way. I'm afraid the
little fool is going to become impossible. Now, do as I do. But be sure and
don't break your nose, for Teresa will blame me."

"You jump first," I said.

"Getting afraid, are you? All right, see me jump. One, two, three!" and
down he went, in the middle of a pansy-bed, Teresa's especial pride and the
object of her particular care.