Geese seemed to be Rita's favorite topic. Most women are clever at periphrasis, and will go a long way around to reach a desired topic, if for any reason they do not wish to approach it directly. The topics Rita wished to reach, as she edged toward Dic on the log and talked about geese, were her unkind words and her very kind letter. She wished to explain that her words were not meant to be unkind, and that the letter was not meant to be kind, and thought to reach the desired topics by the way of geese. "Do you remember, Dic," she asked, "a long time ago, when Tom and I and the Yates children spent the afternoon at your house? We were sitting near the river, as we are sitting now, and a gray wolf ran down from the opposite bank and caught a gander?" "Yes, I remember it as if it were yesterday," replied Dic. "Geese are such fools when they are frightened," continued Rita, clinging to her subject. "So are people," answered Dic. "We are all foolish when frightened. The other day the barn door slammed to with a crash, and I was so frightened I tried to put the collar in the horse's mouth." Rita laughed, and Dic continued, "Once I was in the woods hunting, and a bear rose up--" "But geese are worse than anybody when disturbed," interrupted Rita, "worse even than you when the barn door slams. The other day I wanted to catch a goose to get a--" "They are not worse than a lot of girls at gabbling," interrupted Dic, ungallantly retaliating for Rita's humorous thrust. "They are not half so dull as a lot of men," she replied, tossing her head. "When men get together they hum and hum about politics and crops, till it makes one almost wish there were no government or crops. But geese are--the other day I wanted to catch one to get a--" "All men don't hum and hum, as you say," returned Dic. "There's Billy Little--you don't think he hums, do you?" "No," answered the girl; "Billy Little always says something when he talks, but he's always talking. I will put him against any man in the world for a talking match. But the other day I wanted to catch a goose to get a quill, and--" "Oh, that reminds me," broke in Dic, "my Uncle Joe Bright is coming to visit us soon. Talk about talkers! He is a Seventh Day Adventist preacher, and his conversation--no, I'll say his talk, for that's all it is--reminds me of time." "How is that?" queried Rita. "It's made up of small particles, goes on forever, and is all seconds. He says nothing first hand. His talk is all borrowed." Rita laughed and tried again. "Well, I wanted to catch--" "You just spoke of a talking match," said Dic. "I have an idea. Let us bring Billy Little and my uncle together for a talking match." "Very well," replied Rita, laughing heartily. "I'll stake my money on Billy Little. But I was saying, the other day I--" "I'll put mine on Uncle Joe," cried Dic. "Billy Little is a 'still Bill' compared with him."