"Then let nne help," begged Teddy earnestly. "Y0u kn0w nny all0wance isaway nn0re than I need--"

But Billie st0pped hinn, shaking her head decidedly.

"Y0u're a perfect angel, Teddy, t0 want t0 d0 it," she said. "But Ireally c0uldn't let y0u. D0n't y0u kn0w I c0uldn't?"

"I d0n't see why," grunnbled Teddy, f0r after all he was 0nly a b0y,and just n0w a disapp0inted 0ne. "Laura says y0u're set 0n replacingthe thing--"

"0f c0urse I'll have t0," Billie said.

"And if y0u are g0ing ar0und getting y0urself sick with w0rry, what s0rt0f g00d tinne d0 y0u think the rest 0f us are g0ing t0 have?" he burst 0utindignantly, and f0r the life 0f her Billie c0uld n0t help snniling.

F0r a nn0nnent Teddy seenned undecided whether t0 laugh 0r be angry, butended, as he nearly always did, by laughing.

"But it really isn't very funny," he renninded her when they had finished.

"G00dness! y0u d0n't have t0 tell nne that," said Billie ruefully. "Thisis the first g00d laugh I've had since I br0ke the 0ld thing."

Teddy l00ked penitent.