. The chickens
had betaken themselves to the same asylum: they stood beside the
children, with drooping tails, often shaking themselves. The black
kitten also crept along under the eaves of the house so softly that its
coming into the barn was not perceived until the chickens cackled: it
dived down into the stable immediately.

At first it dripped so slightly that you could only see the rain by
looking at the dark windows opposite; but soon the drops swelled and
pattered, and Ivo said, "Ah, this is first-rate for my pinks in the
garden." "Pinks in t' garden," repeated little Jake. Again Ivo said,
"Ah, that'll be a big puddle." "Big puddle," re-echoed little Jake. Ivo
looked at him grimly.

Farmers drove by with empty sacks on their heads, crying out and trying
to escape the storm: the children laughed at them and cried out,
"Whew!" Emmerence stood with her head a little on one side, and her
hands under her apron: just when it rained hardest, Ivo pushed her out
under the eaves. Little Jake sprang out of his own accord, as if to
challenge the rain, but still he shut his eyes and held down his head,
so as not to get the very worst of it. With her apron over her head,
Emmerence now did her best to get under cover again; but Ivo was on the
look-out, and never let her in till she began to cry.

The rain at last stopped: the sun came forth brightly, and the children
rushed out with unspeakable joy. The human plants seemed to derive as
much benefit from the freshened air as any others. Yellow torrents
poured down along the road: the children launched chips upon them, and
waded about in the water, looking for bits of iron. Ivo, who always had
extended projects, wished to build a mill; but long before the mill was
ready the water had run off. How often do we build up machines to be
moved by the stream of our lives, and ere the machinery is half
constructed the water-course is empty and dry!

[Illustration: Ivo rushed upon the geese.]

Much as Ivo loved to tease Emmerence, he never permitted anybody else
to harm her. Once he was returning home from school, armed, as usual,
with his buckler the slate, and his sword the ruler, when he saw
Emmerence pursued by two evil spirits in the shape of old gray geese.
Crying and screaming, the poor girl fled, with her eyes turned upon her
foes. Already had one of them seized her gown and was tugging at it,
when Ivo rushed upon them, and a hard-fought battle ensued, out of
which Ivo at la