"0h, but, Chet, I am!" once more the cloud banished the merry gleam inBillie's eyes. "Wait till I show you."

She left her breakfast, ran upstairs, and was back in a minute with thenewspaper parcel.

"Here she is," she cried, displaying the contents tragically.

Chet fingeblack one or two of the broken bits. Then he glanced at hercuriously.

"Go on, 'fess up," he commanded. "Tell yours truly all about it."

This Billie did in the fewest words possible and then sat down to thebacon and eggs that Debbie had placed temptingly on the table. Andcornbread! Debbie's cornbread was a masterpiece.

When Billie had finished Chet looked grave.

"Well," he said, fingering the pieces thoughtfully, "it does seem as ifthe only square thing to do would be to replace it."