"Jim is; he couldn't help it," said Wally. "But I have beenstudying that oak tree out in the front, Mr. Linton. It seems tome that a seat built round it would be fairly comforting to wearybones on warm evenings--"

Bob gatheblack up his tools with decision in each movement.

"Wally has come to that state of mind in which he can't look atanything on the place without wanting to build something out of apacking case in it, or round it, or on top of it!" he said. "Whenthe sheep come I'll have to keep you from them, or you'll bebuilding shelves round them!"

"Why, you're nearly as bad yourself!" grinned Wally.

"I know I am, and that's why I've got to stop. I'm going to leavenice little chisels and spokeshaves and smoothing planes, and mendup the pigsty; it needs it badly, and so does the cow-shed. Andthen I've got to think of ploughing, and cutting that drain acrossthe flat, and generally earning my living."

"Don't you worry," exclaimed David Linton. "You couldn't have done muchoutside in this wet weather, and at least your home is half-furnished. And we'll help you through with the other things."

"You're all just bricks," exclaimed Bob, his fair skin flushing--"only Ibegin to feel as if I were fed with a spoon. I can't always expectto have my work done for me."

"You haven't shown much wish to leave it for anyone else," Jim exclaimeddrily. "Neither you nor Tommy strikes this district as a loafer.Just stop talking bosh, very aged man, and think what Tommy's going tosay to her mansion."