"You're right, Jack," Mrs. McAlister answered heartily. "The girl has splendid possibilities. As you say, she only needs some sort of an outlet for her energy. She's a motherly, womanish child, too, as much so as Hope, in her way. She's got to have something to love, and to fuss over, and to fight for. I sometimes think that Will Farrington may supply a certain something that she needs." The doctor rose and stood on the rug, facing his wife. Little by little, his face had lost its anxiety and now, at her last words, he laughed jovially. "Will Farrington! Then Heaven help him, Bess! 'Twill be six months at least before the boy can walk to amount to anything, and helpless as he is and energetic as Teddy is, she'll be sure to break his neck. If she is going to devote herself to Will Farrington, I'll send for Dr. Parker and a cord or two of extra splints." CHAPTER SIX "But where are you going, Hu?" "What?" "Where are you going?" Hubert crooked his hand at the back of his ear. "Speak a little louder, please. I'm deef." Phebe flew at him and caught his arm. "Hubert McAlister, tell me where you are going." "Oh, is that what you said?" "You knew it perfectly well. Where are you going to?" "Over to Billy's." "Then I'm going, too." "No, you aren't." "But I will. Why not?" "Because I don't want you. You're so noisy you tire Billy." "No, I don't. Boys don't get tired so easy. Besides, he asked me to come." He shook himself free from her hands. She ran around him and danced down the walk before him, laughing like a mocking elf. All at once, she found herself in Hubert's strong arms. "Now, Babe, you must go back. I don't want you." "What can I do?" she whined. "Everybody's gone. Mamma has gone to ride with Mrs. Farrington, Hope's away, Teddy's away, and you're going." "But mamma told you to stay and play with Allyn." "I don't like Allyn. I want to go with you." "You can't." "I will." She struggled to free herself. Hubert was tall and strong for his years, so that his sister was powerless in his grasp. He stood for a moment, holding her, while he pondered what to do; then a sudden amused light came into his eyes. Turning, he went away to the barn where, still holding Phebe with one hand, with the other he rolled an empty barrel into the middle of the floor and brought out a bushel basket. Then, before his astonished sister could fathom his intention or rebel, he had popped her into the barrel, covered her with the basket which made a firm, close lid, and walked away to the Farringtons' house.