If she 'll let him he 'll bring it to-morrow . '' `` Oh , I 'll be almost afraid to look at it , '' said Sara Ray tremulously . I think we all shared her fear to some extent . Nevertheless , we went to school the next day burning with curiosity . And we were disappointed . Possibly night had brought counsel to Jerry Cowan ; or perhaps his mother had put him up to it . At all events , he announced to us that he could n't bring the red-covered history to school , but if we wanted to buy the picture outright he would tear it out of the book and sell it to us for fifty cents . We talked the matter over in serious conclave in the orchard that evening . We were all rather short of hard cash , having devoted most of our spare means to the school library fund . But the general consensus of opinion was that we must have the picture , no matter what pecuniary sacrifices were involved . If we could each give about seven cents we would have the amount . Peter could only give four , but Dan gave eleven , which squared matters . `` Fifty cents would be pretty dear for any other picture , but of course this is different , '' said Dan . `` And there 's a picture of Eden thrown in , too , you know , '' added Felicity . `` Fancy selling God 's picture , '' said Cecily in a shocked , awed tone . `` Nobody but a Cowan would do it , and that 's a fact , '' said Dan . `` When we get it we 'll keep it in the family Bible , '' said Felicity . `` That 's the only proper place . '' `` Oh , I wonder what it will be like , '' breathed Cecily . We all wondered .
Next day in school we agreed to Jerry Cowan 's terms , and Jerry promised XXXXX bring the picture up to Uncle Alec 's the following afternoon .
At If about for in like of that to with