his legs and chin. At seventeen and eighteen growth is still going on,
sometimes in a sporadic way, several parts seeming to have sprouted
faster than others. Often the features have not quite settled down
together in harmony, a mouth, for instance, appearing to have gained
such a lead over the rest of a face, that even a mother may fear it
can never be overtaken. Voices, too, often seem misplaced; one hears,
outside the door, the bass rumble of a sinister giant, and a mild boy,
thin as a cricket, walks in. The contrary was George Crooper's case;
his voice was an unexpected piping tenor, half falsetto and frequently
girlish--as surprising as the absurd voice of an elephant.

He had the general outwardness of a vast and lumpy child. His chin had
so distanced his other features that his eyes, nose, and brow seemed
almost baby-like in comparison, while his mountainous legs were the
great part of the rest of him. He was one of those huge, bottle-shaped
boys who are always in motion in spite of their cumbersomeness. His
gestures were continuous, though difficult to interpret as bearing
upon the subject of his equally continuous conversation; and under all
circumstances he kept his conspicuous legs incessantly moving, whether
he was going anywhere or remaining in comparatively one spot.

His expression was pathetically offensive, the result of his bland
confidence in the audible opinions of a small town whereof his father
was the richest inhabitant--and the one thing about him, even more
obvious than his chin, his legs, and his spectacular taste in flannels,
was his perfect trust that he was as welcome to every one as he was to
his mother. This might some day lead him in the direction of great pain,
but on the occasion of the "subscription party" for Miss Pratt it gave
him an advantage.

"When do I get to meet that cutie?" he insisted, as Johnnie Watson moved
backward from the cousinly arm, which threatened further flailing. "You
intradooced me to about seven I can't do much FOR, but I want to get the
howdy business over with this Miss Pratt, so I and she can get things
started. I'm goin' to keep her busy all day!"

"Well, don't be in such a hurry," said Johnnie, uneasily. "You can meet
her when we get out in the country--if I get a chance, George."

"No, sir!" George protested, jovially. "I guess you're sad birds over in
this town, but look out! When I hit a town it don't take long till they
all hear there's something do