was playin' nurse to you
kids, and the notion don't go down none too good even to oblige Dan
Ford, Boss. They've lived in the open, most of the boys has, and are
better used to roundin' up stock than to tendin' tenderfeet youngsters.
Eh, Little One? Ain't you nowise curious to hear how Netty passed the
night?"

One thing was evident to them all--the sharpshooter's ready tongue had
suffered no hurt from the unhappy incident of the day before.

Dorothy ran to put her hand in his, exclaiming:

"How dreadful of me! I had forgotten that darling thing. Actually
forgotten. How could I when she came from Jim?"

Away she sped toward the Barracks, her white frock and scarlet ribbons
making a pretty spot of color on the wide shaven lawn; but practical
Alfaretta remarked:

"If that ain't just like Dolly Doodles! Make her think she's neglected
somebody and off she flies, forgettin' things better worth rememberin'!
The idea! She'll go right to cleanin' that calico filly, Zaraza, an'
never think a mite about her clean clothes. Not till she gets 'em
dirty--then nothing'll do but she must put on fresh. White frocks ain't
so easy did up, either, so I'll go get our high aprons, that Mrs.
Calvert had made for us to dust the house in, at Paradise. We've got
quite a lot of 'em and, girls, if you'd like, I'll bring a couple for
you, too."

"You dear, thoughtful little caretaker! I'll be ever so obliged for the
loan till I can make one for myself," answered Helena gratefully, giving
her mate a smile that made Alfy happy.

Eager to see their horses but not so pleased with the idea of grooming
them, the lads sauntered toward the stables and corral, Leslie
intimating that he thought "a quarter judiciously applied would be
better than soiling himself by stable-work."

Neither Herbert nor Monty knew Leslie well enough yet to understand this
shirking of what they anticipated as a delightful task. Herbert had
always been used to horses, and to fine ones. He loved his own
Bucephalus, "back home," as a dear friend, and looked forward to equal
enjoyment in his new Blackamoor. With a little laugh he glanced at his
young host and remarked:

"If I could help it I would never let another hand than mine touch that
superb animal your father gave me. I hardly realize it yet, that it is
truly my own. Why, I mean to train him to hurdles and high jumps, and
when I go back east, this autumn, I'll get myself proposed for the
Highland Valley Hunt and--e