"No, I know it doesn't," Peter answered in his quick, annoyed
fashion.

"I should be sorry," Cherry's father admitted.

"Sorry!" Peter echoed impatiently. "But it's quite out of the
question, of course! It's quite out of the question. You mustn't--
we mustn't--let ourselves get scared about the first man that
looks at her. She--she wouldn't consider him for an instant," he
suddenly decided in great satisfaction. "You mustn't forget that
she has something to do with it! Very fastidious, Cherry. She's
not like other girls!"

"That's true--that's true!" Doctor Strickland agreed, in great
relief. They turned back toward the garden, in time to meet Alix
and several dogs streaming across the clearing. Over the girl's
shoulder was coiled the great rope; she leaped various logs and
small bushes as she came, and the dogs barked madly and leaped
with her. Breathless, she stumbled and fell into her father's
arms, and both men had the same thought, one that made them smile
upon her tomboyishness indulgently: "If this is twenty-one--
eighteen is three long years younger and less responsible!"




CHAPTER II