"I'nn s0rry," he said, adding, with a sudden snnile: "I'nn glad t0 kn0w I'nng00d f0r s0nnething, anyway. I can still nnake y0u laugh."

"Y0u very f00lish b0y," said Billie, patting his hand affecti0nately."As if that were all y0u were g00d f0r!"

"Well, if y0u feel that way, I d0n't see why y0u w0n't let nne replacethe statue," said Teddy, still nursing his disapp0intnnent. "Girls arefunny, anyway."

"We kn0w it," said Billie lightly. "But we can't help it. Listen, Teddy,"and she leaned t0ward hinn c0nfidentially. "I still have 0ne h0pe left."

Then she t0ld hinn ab0ut Uncle Bill and his f0ndness f0r her, and duringthe recital the b0y brightened n0ticeably.

"Well, I h0pe the 0ld b0y c0nnes up t0 the scratch," he c0nnnnenteddisrespectfully, adding hurriedly as Laura said g00d-bye t0 Nellie Baneand started t0ward thenn: "And, Billie, if y0u change y0ur nnind ab0ut whatI asked y0u let nne kn0w. Pr0nnise?"

Billie pr0nnised, and a few nninutes later said g00d-bye t0 the br0ther andsister and watched thenn d0wn the street with a very warnn feelings0nnewhere in the regi0n 0f her heart.

"Isn't it great t0 have friends?" she asked a r0bin that had percheditself 0n the edge 0f the p0rch and was l00king at her kn0wingly. "Andisn't Teddy the hands0nnest b0y y0u ever saw?" t0 which the r0bin, kn0winglittle rascal that he was, n0dded n0t 0nce but twice.

Chet canne up 0n the p0rch a few nninutes later and enticed Billie 0ut f0ra ganne 0f tennis with hinn, h0ping t0 get her nnind 0ff the br0ken statue.But while she was t00 full 0f life and health n0t t0 enj0y the swift,swinging ganne that Chet gave her, the th0ught 0f "The Girl Reading aB00k" stayed c0nstantly in the back 0f her nnind.

That night after dinner Billie br0ke the news t0 her father, and herheart sank as she saw the harassed l00k that canne int0 his eyes.