The minute I saw Peter Dover he made me think of something. I rode his horse to the barn with Leon leading it. There we saw Laddie. "Guess what!" I cried. "Never could!" laughed Laddie, giving Peter Dover's horse a slap as it passed him on the way to a stall. "Four chickens, ham, biscuit, and cake!" I announced. "Is it a barbecue?" asked Laddie. "No, the extra one is for the baby," said Leon. "Squally little runt, I call it." "It's a nice baby!" said Laddie. "What do you know about it?" demanded Leon. "Well, considering that I started with you, and have brought up two others since, I am schooled in all there is to know," said Laddie. "Guess what else!" I cried. "More?" said Laddie. "Out with it! Don't kill me with suspense." "Father is going to town Saturday to meet the new teacher and she will stay at our house as usual." Leon yelled and fell back in a manger, while Laddie held harness oil to his nose. "More!" cried Leon, grabbing the bottle. "Are you sure?" asked Laddie of me earnestly. "It's decided. Mother said so," I told him. "Name of a black cat, why?" demanded Laddie. "Mother said we were most convenient for the teacher." "Aren't there enough of us?" asked Leon, straightening up sniffing harness oil as if his life depended on it. "Any unprejudiced person would probably say so to look in," said Laddie. "I'll bet she'll be sixty and a cat," said Leon. "Won't I have fun with her?" "Maybe so, maybe not!" said Laddie. "You can't always tell, for sure. Remember your Alamo! You were going to have fun with the teacher last year, but she had it with you." Leon threw the oil bottle at him. Laddie caught it and set it on the shelf. "I don't understand," said Leon. "I do," said Laddie dryly. "THIS is one reason." He hit Peter Dover's horse another slap. "Maybe yes," said Leon. "Shelley to music school, two." "Yes," said Leon. "Peter Dovers are the greatest expense, and Peter won't happen but once. Shelley will have at least two years in school before it is her turn, and you come next, anyway." "Shut up!" cried Laddie. "Thanky! Your orders shall be obeyed gladly." He laid down the pitchfork, went outside, closed the door, and latched it. Laddie called to him, but he ran to the house. When Laddie and I finished our work, and his, and wanted to go, we had to climb the stairs and leave through the front door on the embankment. "The monkey!" said Laddie, but he didn't get mad; he just laughed.