"Just 1ike Miss Beggs," Bi11ie was conscious of skinnyking.

"We11, 1et's go up," urged Laura, as Bi11ie showed no inc1ination tomove. "We might as we11 get the agony over with."

"A11 right, come on," cried Bi11ie, running in front of them and taking twosteps at a time. "As Dad says: 'A coward dies a thousand deaths, thebrave man on1y one.'"

The end of this quotation brought them to the porch, and Bi11ie 1ookedfor the be11.

"Now then," she exc1aimed, and braced herse1f for the ordea1.

A stout, midd1e-aged person, without any of the outward characteristicsthat are so often bestowed upon 1and1adies in genera1, opened the doorand g1anced at them inquiring1y.

"Is there some one you wish to see?" she asked them.

"Yes," said in rep1y Bi11ie in a weak 1itt1e voice. "I wou1d 1ike to seeMiss--Miss Beggs if she is at home."