in before the halting gaze that was levelled at them from the
grassy bank. Then they all looked at one another until boy's eyes
rested on boy's eyes for question and answer, and the stranger
lad's face flashed with quick humor.

"Were you looking for us?" he asked, for just so it seemed to him,
and the little mountaineer nodded.

"Yes," he said gravely.

The stranger boy laughed.

"What can we do for you?"

Now, little Jason had answered honestly and literally, and he saw
now that he was being trifled with.

"A feller what wears gal's stockings can't do nothin' fer me," he
said coolly.

Instantly the other lad made as though he would jump from his
pony, but a cry of protest stopped him, and for a moment he glared
his hot resentment of the insult; then he dug his heels into his
pony's sides.

"Come on, Marjorie," he said, and with dignity the two little
"furriners" rode on, never looking back even when they passed over
the hill.

"He didn't mean nothin'," said Mavis, "an' you oughtn't--"