e you," said Phil. "Won't you, Margaret?
Redwings' nests always look better in the morning, besides. Come on,
boy, and I'll tell you all about the game."

Willy still hesitated, looking at Margaret; and she in her turn
hesitated, blushing rosy red. "Don't let me keep you, Willy dear," she
said. "If you would like to hear about the game--"

"_Go on_, young un!" said Gerald, in a tone of decision so unlike his
usual bantering way, that Willy stared, then yielded; and slowly
mounting the bicycle, started off with Phil along the road.

They rode for some time in silence, Phil being apparently lost in
thought.

"Well!" said Willy at last, in an injured tone.

"Well, what is it, Belted Will?"

"I thought you were going to tell me about the game," said Willy,
moodily. "I say, Phil! I think it was awfully rude of you and Jerry to
yank me off that way, when I had promised Margaret to take her
somewhere, and we were going straight there when you came along and
broke in. I don't think that's any kind of way to do, and I am sure Ma
would say so, too. What do you suppose Margaret thinks of me now?"

"Ri tum ti tum ti tido!" carolled Phil. "What do I suppose she thinks of
you, Belted One? Why, she thinks you are one of the nicest boys she ever
saw; and so you are, when not in doleful dumps. See here, old chap!
you'll be older before you are younger, and some day you will know a
hawk from a handsaw, _or_ hernshaw, according to which reading of
'Hamlet' you prefer. And now as to this game!"

He plunged into a detailed account of the great match, and soon Willy's
eyes were sparkling, and his cheeks glowing, and he had forgotten all
about Margaret and the redwing's nest.

But as they crested the hill, which on the other side dipped down to the
camp, Phil glanced back along the road. Margaret and Gerald were
walking slowly, deep in talk, and did not see the wave of his hand.
"Heigh, ho!" said Phil; but he smiled even while he sighed.

CHAPTER XVI.

ON THE DOWN

ONE afternoon, when most of the campers were off fishing, Margaret
wandered alone up to the top of the great down behind the camp.
Thoroughly in love with the camp life as she was, in most of its
aspects, she could not learn to care for fishing. To sit three, four,
five hours in a boat, on the chance of killing a harmless and beautiful
creature, did not, she protested, appeal to her; and many a lively
argument had she had on the subject with Bell and Gertrude