me it must be slow to be
a girl. Here, Dora, let me liven you up a bit."

Davy's method of "livening up" was to grasp Dora's curls in his fingers
and give them a tug. Dora shrieked and then cried.

"How can you be such a naughty boy and your poor mother just laid in her
grave this very day?" demanded Marilla despairingly.

"But she was glad to die," said Davy confidentially. "I know, 'cause
she told me so. She was awful tired of being sick. We'd a long talk the
night before she died. She told me you was going to take me and Dora for
the winter and I was to be a good boy. I'm going to be good, but can't
you be good running round just as well as sitting still? And she said I
was always to be kind to Dora and stand up for her, and I'm going to."

"Do you call pulling her hair being kind to her?"

"Well, I ain't going to let anybody else pull it," said Davy, doubling
up his fists and frowning. "They'd just better try it. I didn't hurt her
much . . . she just cried 'cause she's a girl. I'm glad I'm a boy but I'm
sorry I'm a twin. When Jimmy Sprott's sister conterdicks him he just
says, 'I'm oldern you, so of course I know better,' and that settles
HER. But I can't tell Dora that, and she just goes on thinking diffrunt
from me. You might let me drive the gee-gee for a spell, since I'm a
man."

Altogether, Marilla was a thankful woman when she drove into her own
yard, where the wind of the autumn night was dancing with the brown
leaves. Anne was at the gate to meet them and lift the twins out. Dora
submitted calmly to be kissed, but Davy responded to Anne's welcome
with one of his hearty hugs and the cheerful announcement, "I'm Mr. Davy
Keith."

At the supper table Dora behaved like a little lady, but Davy's manners
left much to be desired.

"I'm so hungry I ain't got time to eat p'litely," he said when Marilla
reproved him. "Dora ain't half as hungry as I am. Look at all the
ex'cise I took on the road here. That cake's awful nice and plummy. We
haven't had any cake at home for ever'n ever so long, 'cause mother was
too sick to make it and Mrs. Sprott said it was as much as she could do
to bake our bread for us. And Mrs. Wiggins never puts any plums in HER
cakes. Catch her! Can I have another piece?"

Marilla would have refused but Anne cut a generous second slice.
However, she reminded Davy that he ought to say "Thank you" for it. Davy
merely grinned at her and took a huge bite. When he had finished the
slice he s