When I Lift My Eyebrows This Way

"Oh, where have you been, Billy boy, Billy boy? Oh, where have you been, charming Billy?"

Somewhere behind him a daring young voice was singing. Billy turned with a real start, and when he saw her coming gayly down a little, brush-hidden path and knew that she was alone, the heart of him turned a complete somersault--from the feel of it.

"My long friend, Dilly, was busy, and so I--I went to look after my horse," he explained, his mind somewhat in a jumble. How came she to be there, and why did she sing those lines? How did she know that was his song, or--did she really care at all? And where was the Pilgrim?

"Mr. Walland and I tried the swing, but I don't like it; it made me horribly dizzy," she said, coming up to him. "Then I went to find Mama Joy--"

"Who?" Billy had by that time recovered his wits enough to know just exactly what she said.

"Mama Joy--my stepmother. I call her that. You see, father wants me to call her mama--he really wanted it mother, but I couldn't--and she's so young to have me for a daughter, so she wants me to call her Joy; that's her name. So I call her both and please them both, I hope. Did you ever study diplomacy, Mr. Boyle?"

"I never did, but I'm going to start right in," Billy told her, and half meant it.