Page:Hegan Rice--Mrs Wiggs of the cabbage patch.djvu/113

 while always interesting, had of late acquired a new significance. Since seeing them in the theater lobby with Robert Redding she had found it necessary to make several visits to the Cabbage Patch, and the chief topic of conversation had been Mr. Bob: how he had taken them to the show; had made Billy his office-boy; had sent them a barrel of apples, and was coming to see them some day. To which deluge of information Lucy had listened with outward calmness and inward thrills.

To-day, as she entered the Wiggses' gate a shout greeted her. Billy let himself down from the chicken-coop roof, and ran forward.

"Them Roman candles was n't no good!" he cried. "One of 'em busted too soon, and 'most blowed my hand off."

"Oh, no, it did n't, Miss Lucy!" said