Some of them seeing him always at the window fell
into the way of nodding to him as they passed.
He knew their names from hearing them call each other, and his
favorites were Louise, Ikey, and Jim.
On this particular Saturday afternoon John felt that something unusual
was going on. Dora passed with her work-bag, to be met at the
Hazeltines' gate by Bess and Louise, and they seemed to have something
very interesting to talk about as they crossed the street together.
A moment later Elsie and Constance went up the Brown house walk. This
happened every Saturday, but when nearly an hour had gone by Jim
Carter appeared. His whistle brought Ikey, and then Carl and Aleck,
and they stood talking almost in front of John's window. How he did
wish he could hear what they said! Presently they were joined by Will
and Fred, and finally by Mrs. Howard, who had a package. Each of the
boys apparently offered to carry this for her, but she declined. Then
they, too, crossed the street and disappeared within the Brown house.
This was all John saw, except that Louise and Ikey came and sat in the
window and seemed to be laughing, but that was not unusual.
It was the first meeting of the Order of the Big Front Door, that was
being held at Miss Brown's this afternoon.
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