"Mis' Hammond!" came Amelia's nasal call. "D'you want a fish? Earle's here and wants to know." "Yes." Catherine drew her paper near. "Huh? D'you want one?" Catherine rose abruptly and hurried into the kitchen. "Buy one, Amelia," she said. "Good morning, Earle." "Well, he's got cod and haddock and hake." Amelia was stern. "Haddock," said Catherine. "There's change there in my purse." When she came back to the porch, Letty was not in sight, nor did she answer Catherine's call. Her red pail lay beside the sand pile. "Oh, damn!" thought Catherine, as she flung her pen on to the table and started in quest of Letty. "If I don't find her, I'll regret it. Letty! Mother wants you!" Incredible that those small legs could travel so fast. Catherine peeked into the poultry yard. Last week she had found Letty there, trying to catch an indignant rooster. But Letty seldom repeated. As she rounded the corner of the house, she saw the child, and her own heart contracted terribly. Letty was lying on her stomach on a broad stone, part of the well curb, her small yellow head out of sight, her heels in the air. "Who left that cover off! If I call her, I may startle her----" Amelia appeared at the door, a water pail in her hand, her pale eyes popping out in her tight face. "Sh-h!" Catherine laid a finger on her lips, as she stole softly toward Letty, with knees that trembled. Her hand closed firmly over a kicking foot, and she dragged the child suddenly back. Then she sat down on the grass. Letty wriggled violently to be free. "Letty fish!" she waved a bit of string. "Fish!" "Well, don't that beat all!" Amelia stood over them. "Who left that well cover off?" "You didn't?" asked Catherine wearily. "My land, no. I was just coming out to draw a bucket. I'll bet that Earle done it." "Letty, be still!" Catherine's tone hushed the child. "I have told you never to go near that well, haven't I?" Letty smiled, beguilingly. "Pretty Muddie. Letty fish." Her small face wrinkled into the most ingratiating smile she possessed. "You are a naughty Letty." Catherine rose. "Come along and be tied up, like a bad little dog." Letty's wrinkled nose smoothed instantly, and her eyes closed for a scream. Catherine lifted her firmly into her arms, one hand over the open mouth. She sat in her room, waiting for Letty's shrieks to subside. They did, soon, and she heard her chirrup. "Get ap! Get ap!" and knew the rope which tied her had become a horse.