"Oh, Hugh, you hear what he says!" ex-
claimed the former, turning to her cousin. * ' Oh,
I am so glad that he thinks so!" Then, recol-
lecting that she was paying him the highest
compliment, she suddenly began to blush, and
turned once more to him. "Well, you talk as if

108



TWO LITTLE CONFEDERATES

you were surprised. Did you expect anything
else?"

There was a fine scorn in her voice, if it had
been real.
' ' Certainly not ; you are all too clever at mak-
ing an attack, ' ' he said coolly, looking her in the
eyes. "But I have heard even of your running
away, ' ' he added, with a twinkle in his eyes.
"When?" she asked quickly, with a little
guilty color deepening in her face as she glanced
at the boys. "I never did."

"Oh, she did!" exclaamed both boys in a
breath, breaking in, now that the conversation
was within their range. You ought to have seen
her. She just flew!" exclaimed Frank.
The girl made a rush at the offender to stop
him.
"He does n't know what he is talking about,"
she said, roguishly, over her shoulder.
"Yes, he does," called the other. "She was
standing at the foot of the steps when you all
came, and— oo— oo— oo— " the rest was lost as
his cousin placed her hand close over his mouth.
