Colonel saying, "May Lilly, do you know about Billy Goat Gruff? Do you
want me to tell you that story?"

He leaned forward until he could look through the narrow opening of the
door. Two heads were all he could see,--Lloyd's, soft-haired and golden,
May Lilly's, covered with dozens of tightly braided little black tails.

He was about to order May Lilly back to the cabin, when he remembered
the scene that followed the last time he had done so. He concluded to
keep quiet and listen.

"Billy Goat Gruff was so fat," the story went on, "jus' as fat as
gran'fathah."

The Colonel glanced up with an amused smile at the fine figure reflected
in an opposite mirror.

"Trip-trap, trip-trap, went Billy Goat Gruff's little feet ovah the
bridge to the giant's house."

Just at this point Walker, who was putting things in order, closed the
door between the rooms.

"Open that door, you black rascal!" called the Colonel, furious at the
interruption.

In his haste to obey, Walker knocked over a pitcher of water that had
been left on the floor beside the wash-stand.

Then the Colonel yelled at him to be quick about mopping it up, so that