Elephant, I'm
afraid, because it isn't all paid for anyway, and there's the yearly
interest." She hesitated before she added, slowly, "I wonder why on earth
it is, Bill Ellis, that the people with the most children who need the
most money always seem to be hunting for it, and these nice, old, placid
darlings, like the Dean and Miss Daphne, have simply got oodles planted
away somewhere, and never have to think twice over where the next windfall
is coming from."

But Billie was inclined to take an optimistic view of the whole affair.

"Grandfather said that there was no cause for worry; it was just a case of
pitch in and get your living out of the farms again."

"Yes," said Kit, with fine scorn, "get your living out of the farms.
That's all very well for him to say, when he's got everything to do with,
and twenty of the best cows in Windham County, but we moved up there on
hope and a shoe-string. And we've never really raised anything except
chickens and children. You know, Billie, even with a small income, how
you can play country gentleman to your heart's content in a little place
like Gilead."

"Stanley says your place, if it was properly worked, would make one of the
finest fruit farms up there, 'cause all your land slopes to the south as
far as the river. He says if he had it he'd sell off the heavy timber for
cash and put the money right into hardy varieties of fruit and hogs."

Kit laughed.

"Can't you see Helen's face over the hogs, when she has wanted to raise
bulbuls and white peacocks, with a few antelopes and gazelles wandering
around. But I suppose one could keep the hogs out of sight, they wouldn't
have to graze on the front lawn. Did he tell Dad that?"

"I don't know," Billie said, doubtfully. "You know, Uncle Jerry's kind of
hard to get confidential with over his own affairs, but I wouldn't worry,
Kit, if I were you. Things always come out all right."

"They do not," returned Kit, calmly. "Even Cousin Roxy says that you have
to give Providence a helping hand now and then. I'm going to think up a
way to start those hogs rambling over the southern slopes of Greenacre
Hall."

Billie smiled at her mischievously.

"That's the new name, isn't it? You'll be a nice crowd of farmerettes next
summer, won't you?"

"Maybe it'll happen before next summer," prophesied Kit, sagely. "Jean and
mother like to call it Greenacre Hall, but I like Greenacre Farm, if we're
going to do any business there. Thanks ever