Elsie gladly fell in with her friend’s idea, and together they endeavoured to place Willamilla upon her feet on the ground. In this they were confronted with insuperable difficulties: Willamilla proved unable to comprehend their intentions; and although Daisy knelt and repeatedly placed the small feet in position, the experiment was wholly unsuccessful. Nevertheless the experimenters, not at all discouraged, continued it with delight, for they _played_ that Willamilla was walking. They heaped praises upon her. “My darling baby!” Daisy cried. “Doesn’t she walk _beautiful_?” “The precious little love!” Elsie echoed. “She just walks _beautiful_!” At this the gloomy person in the background permitted himself to sneer. “That ain’t walkin’,” he said. “It is, too! You doe’ know what you’re talkin’ about!” the chorus of two retorted, not interrupting their procedure. “He ain’t walkin’,” Laurence maintained. “She is, too!” said Elsie. “She’s walkin’ now,” said Daisy. “She’s walkin’ all the time.” “No, he’s not,” Laurence said. “His feet are sort of curly, and they’re _’way_ too wide apart. I bet there’s somep’m the matter with him.” “There is not!” The two little girls looked round at him indignantly; for this unwarranted intimation of some structural imperfection roused them. “Shame on you!” Daisy said; and to Willamilla: “Show mamma how beautiful she walks.” “He can’t do it,” Laurence said obdurately. “I bet there _is_ somep’m the matter with him.” “There is _not_!” “Yes, sir,” said Laurence, and he added, with conviction: “His legs ain’t fixed on him right.” “Shame on you, Laurence Coy!” But Laurence persisted in his view. “Listen!” he said, arguing. “Look at _my_ legs. Look at anybody’s legs that can walk. Well, are they fixed on ’em the way _his_ are?” “Yes, they are!” Daisy returned sharply. “Only hers are fixed on better than yours!” “They ain’t,” said Laurence. “Mine are fixed on like other people’s, and his are—well, they’re terrable!” “Oh, isn’t he tiresome?” Elsie said pettishly. “Do be quiet about your ole legs!” “Yes, _do_!” said Daisy; and then she jumped up, a new idea lighting her eyes. “_I_ tell you what let’s do,” she cried. “Let’s put her back in the wagon, an’ play we’re takin’ a walk on Sunday with our baby an’ all the family.” “How’ll we play it?” Elsie asked. “Well, _I_’ll be the mamma and push the wagon,” Daisy said excitedly. “Elsie, you be some lady that’s visitin’ us, an’ sort of walk along with us, an’——” “No,” Elsie interrupted. “_I_ want to be the mamma and push the wagon, an’ _you_ be some lady that’s visitin’ _us_.” Daisy looked a little annoyed, but she compromised. “Well, we’ll go a long walk, and I’ll be the mamma the first block, an’ then the next block you can be the mamma, and I’ll be the lady that’s visitin’ us, an’ then the next block it’ll be my turn again.” “All right,” said Elsie. “What’ll we have Laurence be?” “We’ll have him be the father.”