They passed out of the dim and shadowy old church into the bright sunlight, and walked slowly toward home. On their way they encountered their small neighbor, Billy Hale, running madly after two small dogs who were trotting side by side down the middle of the street. Billy had a tin cup of water in his hand, and just as Ellen and her companion came up the youngster had succeeded in dashing the last of the water over the two dogs. “What in the world are you doing, Billy?” asked Ellen, stopping short. He came prancing up, glee written on his rosy face. “Now they’re married,” he exclaimed joyfully; “they’ve had a wetting.” Ellen turned with a puzzled look to Mr. Todd, who threw back his head and shouted with laughter. “Don’t you understand?” he said. “Dovey means a wedding.” “Yes,” Billy nodded cheerfully; “they’ve had a wetting, so they’re married.” He slipped his small hand into Ellen’s and looked smilingly up at her. “My mamma is going to a wetting next week; she said so; it is going to be in the church. I wish she’d take me. Do you think they’ll sing about Sara Phim?” “Ask Mr. Todd; he can tell all about the music, you know.” “Will they sing about Sara Phim?” asked Billy, turning his attention to the organist. “Not this time,” was the response. By now they had reached Mr. Todd’s gate. Hearing Lucilena’s terrifying threat that if he didn’t come home a-bilin’ she’d skin him alive, Billy dashed on while Ellen lingered a moment by the gate. “Such a fanciful little monkey as he is,” she said. “I must tell Cousin Rindy about the wetting; she loves Billy’s funny little sayings. You won’t forget, will you, Mr. Todd, to think up some way that I can earn some money or do something for Cousin Rindy? I am in dead earnest.” “I won’t forget.” Ellen nodded, waved her hand, and passed on. Mr. Todd opened the gate and went in. Half-way up the walk he stopped short. “I believe I have it,” he exclaimed. “To be sure. Why not? I’ll find out to-morrow.” Then he went on. CHAPTER VI A BIRTHDAY PARTY It was almost summer, however, before Jeremy Todd was able to carry out the plan which had occurred to him on the day when the dogs had had their “wetting.” In the meantime the days had gone busily for Ellen. What with keeping up with her class at school, performing the duties her cousin allotted her at home, and giving such attention as was possible to her music, there was no time for moping. Christmas passed quietly. Some little gifts came from the old friends in the city, Caro gave her a large box of candy which brought the charge from Miss Rindy that she was not to make herself sick eating it, and from some unknown quarter came a box of flowers. Dear old Jeremy smuggled in a set of Browning, looking furtively around as he produced it, as if he suspected Bessie would be on his track. Miss Rindy sniffed when Ellen displayed the gift.