ill and my hair all came out. It used to be
straight as yours. I went to bed with my long hair braided smoothly,
and got up with these new little kinks."

"I wish I knew where I could ketch that kind o' sickness," returned
Minty, regarding the bright auburn rings enviously, "but don't tell
Thinkright I said so," she added, with an afterthought. "He thinks
bein' sick's as wrong as lyin'."

"My cousin Thinkright has some very odd ideas," returned Sylvia.

"There's Daisy a-mooin'," exclaimed Minty, her face lighting. "She
hears us talkin'."

"Well, don't forget to tell her how charming I am, will you? It gives
me the shivers to think I'm walking straight up to a pair of horns and
not a fence in sight."

"She won't do nawthin';" the child smiled at the comical grimace her
companion made, and a turn in the path revealed a white cow at the end
of her tether looking eagerly toward them. A clump of evergreens rose
beyond her.

"I think I'll climb one of those trees," said Sylvia. "She looks too
glad to see me."

Minty laughed aloud, and running to the white cow threw her arms around
her neck.

"Now then, introduce us," said Sylvia. "This is Miss Daisy Foster, I
believe. So happy not to meet you, my dear! Please don't look as if you
were going to rush into my arms the minute Minty lets go."

Minty laughed delightedly.

"I guess you'd better git back of her, Miss Lacey. When I untie her she
might fall foul of yer and never mean to, she's so anxious for the
barn."

Sylvia skipped toward the pines with alacrity. The sea wind and the
situation had brought color into her cheeks.

"Why, the cow is anchored!" she exclaimed; for she perceived an ancient
anchor at her feet to which that end of the rope was fastened.

"Yes. Daisy can't drag _her_ anchor," returned Minty, her fingers busy
with the knot at the cow's neck, "though she'd like to lots o' times.
There now, Bossy, don't act so drove. I know it's later'n common, but I
had a good reason, and 'tain't thinkin' right to be impatient." With
the last word the rope fell free, and as the cow gave a bound Minty
clung to its horns, and was carried forward, her feet scarcely touching
the grass. Sylvia's heart leaped to her throat for a moment, but
Minty's delighted laugh came back to her, and the guest laughed, too,
at the child's antics.

Minty, glowing with superiority, could not resist this prime
opportunity to make an impression, so went on with the romp as familiar