sketch, and even in sitting as her models, but they rebelled against
the devotion of more than a due portion of her time to painting. They
were in the mood for walking, and nearly every day wanted to start off
with picnic baskets and to eat their lunch somewhere on the hills. It
was certainly better for Lesbia to take exercise than to sit sketching
in such weather. She groused, but submitted to the inevitable, and
enjoyed herself very much when once she had made the plunge and started
forth. The Stripling, who was taller than ever, still favoured practical
jokes, and was wont to wax argumentative if anybody disagreed with him.
He had many wordy tussles with Regina, and even did a little
brain-fencing with Lesbia. He liked to air some rather outrageous
opinion and stick to it, as if he were conducting the opposition in a
debating society. On one occasion Lesbia, halting by a cross-roads
sign-post upon the moors, remarked casually what a mercy it was there
were no highwaymen nowadays to pounce like hawks on unwary travellers.
Derrick instantly bristled to the defensive.

"I don't know," he began aggressively. "I think there's a great deal to
be said for highwaymen. It was a sporting way of getting a living. And
it made travelling far more interesting than it is now. There was some
fun in riding with your pistol cocked. Besides, it brought out people's
courage. We're a soft lot nowadays when it isn't wartime. A man was a
man in the eighteenth century. He knew how to take care of himself. I
think some of those famous highwaymen were very fine fellows. They'd the
spirit of the age in them. People's blood is as dull as ditch-water in
the twentieth century."

"Oh, indeed. I wonder how you'd like a highwayman darting suddenly down
upon you, Mr. Derrick, and saying 'Hands up'?"

"I'd be equal to him if he did, no fear," replied the Stripling grimly.

Lesbia did not trouble to pursue the argument, for the very good reason
that she was suddenly possessed with an idea, such an excellent and
brilliant idea that she chuckled softly to herself over it. She kept it
dark from Derrick, but confided it to Regina at the first opportunity.
Her chum's explosions made the Stripling prick up his ears.

"What are you two after?" he asked, with suspicion.

"Oh, nothing for small boys," choked Regina.

"You've always got some silly joke."

"Well, we're going to keep this one to ourselves at any rate."

"Little things please little minds