A shrill shout came from behind the intervening lady who arose and stepped back as Peaches raised to her elbow, and stretched a shaking hand toward Peter. "Gee, Peter! You get your mouth soaped out first!" she cried. "Gee, Peter! I _like_ you, Peter!" Peter bent over her and then stooping to her level he explored her with astonished eyes, as he cried: "Why child, you ain't big enough for an exclamation point!" Peaches didn't know what an exclamation point was, but Mickey did. His laugh brought him again into her thought. "Mickey, let's beat it! Take me quick!" she panted. "Take me first and talk afterward. Mickey, we just love these nice people, let's go drink their milk, and eat their red berries." "Well Miss Chicken!" said Mickey turning a dull red. The Harding family were laughing. "All right, everybody move," said Peter. "What do you want to take with you Mickey?" "That basket there," he said. "And that box, you take that Junior, and you take the Precious Child, and the slate and the books dearest lady--and I'll take my family; but I ain't so sure about this, lady. She's sweaty now, and riding is the coolingest thing you can do. We mustn't make her sick. She must be well wrapped." "Why she couldn't take cold to-day----" began Peter. "You and Junior shoulder your loads and go right down to the car," said Mrs. Harding. "Mickey and I will manage this. He is exactly right about it. To be taken from such heat to the conditions of motoring might----" "Sure!" interposed Mickey, dreading the next word for the memories it would awaken in the child's heart. "Sure! You two go ahead! We'll come in no time!" "But I'm not going to lug a basket and have a little chap carrying a child. You take this and I'll take the baby!" Mickey's wireless went into instant action so Peaches promptly rebelled. "I ain't no baby!" she said. "Miss Leslie Moonshine Lady sent me her hair ribbons and I 'spect she's been crying for them back every day; and my name what granny named me is Peaches, so there!" "Corrected! Beg pardon!" said Peter. "Miss Peaches, may I have the honour of carrying you to the car?" "Nope," said Peaches with finality. "Nobody, not nobody whatever, not the biggest, millyingairest nobody alive can't ever carry me, nelse Mickey says they can, and he is away off on the cars. I like you Peter! I just like you heaps; but I'm Mickey's, so I got to do what he says 'cause he makes me, jes like he ort, and nobody can't ever tend me like Mickey." "So that's the ticket!" mused Peter. "Yes, that's the ticket," repeated Peaches. "I ain't heavy. Mickey carried me up, down is easier." "Sure!" said Mickey. "_I take my own family_. You take yours. We'll be there in a minute."