ffirs took the patterns of their huts from some
sort of fungi, and so there you are."

"Well, anyhow, Dr. Plumstead is a rattling good sort--for witness how
cheerfully he put up with all of us that time we took possession of his
house--and if he wants to marry Nealie I don't see what is to prevent it
myself," said Rumple; but Rupert only made a grimace, which was his way
of saying that he would just as soon have the question of marriage put
further off into the future.

"If the man wants a wife, why can't he wait until Ducky is old enough?"
went on Sylvia, in the tone of one who has a grievance.

"Why Ducky? You might aspire to the position yourself, for you are
awfully nice looking!" cried Rumple, putting an affectionate arm round
Sylvia and giving her a mighty hug.

"Oh, I am not going to waste my talents in such a fashion! I feel as if
I had been born to greatness, and I shall achieve it some day I am sure;
only it will put the clock back for a few years if I have to
concentrate on breakfasts, dinners, and household things generally,"
said Sylvia, with a sigh, and then the talk came to an abrupt end, for
Don rushed in to say that Billykins was all smashed up from a fall down
a ladder at the mines, and of course there was instant confusion.

But Billykins seemed to have a charmed life, for although he was brought
home in the ambulance, and groaned as loudly as a whole hospital full of
patients, when his father came to make an examination of his hurts they
turned out to be only a few surface scratches and a bruise or two.

"Why, I made sure that I had got a broken leg!" exclaimed Billykins,
standing straight up on both feet and looking the picture of
disappointment. "Are you sure there are no bones broken, Father?"

"Quite sure, my son," said Dr. Plumstead, with a laugh of relief, for he
had supposed there must have been some more serious injury considering
how far the boy had fallen. "But if you feel dissatisfied with my
examination, here comes the other doctor, and you can ask him to
overhaul you."

"Oh, he does not care for anything but Nealie!" said Billykins in a tone
of deep disgust. "I expect that you will have to let them get married,
Father, if it is only to stop him coming over here so often; for his
patients in Hammerville will be calling in another doctor very soon if
he neglects them so shamefully. Why, this is the second time in a month
that he has been here."

"Yes, I expect that will be the be