k fas' 'nuff goin' todes dinnuh. I hear fry-cakes ploppin'
in skillet!"

Mr. Genesis laughed loudly, his son's words evidently painting a merry
and alluring picture; and the two, followed by Clematis, moved away
in the direction of the alley gate. William and Jane watched the brisk
departure of the antique with sincere esteem and liking.

"He must have been sixteen," said William, musingly.

"When?" Jane asked.

William, in deep thought, was still looking after Mr. Genesis; he
was almost unconscious that he had spoken aloud and he replied,
automatically:

"When he was married."

Then, with a start, he realized into how great a condescension he had
been betrayed, and hastily added, with pronounced hauteur, "Things you
don't understand. You run in the house."

Jane went into the house, but she did not carry her obedience to the
point of running. She walked slowly, and in that state of profound
reverie which was characteristic of her when she was immersed in the
serious study of William's affairs.

XVI

THE SHOWER

She continued to be thoughtful until after lunch, when, upon the
sun's disappearance behind a fat cloud, Jane and the heavens exchanged
dispositions for the time--the heavens darkened and Jane brightened. She
was in the front hall, when the sunshine departed rather abruptly, and
she jumped for joy, pointing to the open door. "Look! Looky there!" she
called to her brother. Richly ornamented, he was descending the front
stairs, his embellishments including freshly pressed white trousers, a
new straw hat, unusual shoes, and a blasphemous tie. "I'm goin' to get
to sail my boat," Jane shouted. "It's goin' to rain."

"It is not," said William, irritated. "It's not going to anything like
rain. I s'pose you think it ought to rain just to let you sail that
chunk of wood!"

"It's goin' to rain--it's goin' to rain!" (Jane made a little singsong
chant of it.) "It's goin' to rain--it gives Willie a pain--it's goin' to
rain--it gives Willie a pain--it's goin' to--"

He interrupted her sternly. "Look here! You're old enough to know
better. I s'pose you think there isn't anything as important in the
world as your gettin' the chance to sail that little boat! I s'pose
you think business and everything else has got to stop and get ruined,
maybe, just to please you!" As he spoke he walked to an umbrella-stand
in the hall and deliberately took therefrom a bamboo walking-stick of
his father's. Indeed, his denu