"A year or so! If I can't do it to-day I never can. But I don't want to
blow."

"You needn't. They're all talking about you, with your binding and
pitching and cradling, and what not."

"They are, are they? Who is good enough to waste breath on me?"

"Oh, everybody. The McKenzie girls were just telling me the other day."

"Oh, pshaw! I ran away from their crowd, but that's nothing."

"And I suppose you have not an idea how nice you look as you go swinging
along?"

"Do I? That's the only time then."

"Oh, now you're fishing, and I'm not going to bite. Where did you learn
the scythe?"

"Where? Right here where we had to, Dick and I. By the way, he's coming
home to-day." He glanced at her face quickly as he said this, but her
face showed only a frank pleasure.

"To-day? Good. Won't your mother be glad?"

"Yes. And some other people, too," said Barney.

"And who, particularly?"