Apollo was finding his afternoon somewhat dull. He had made no friends as yet with the little Dolman children. Orion had disappeared with both the boys; Iris was with Ann, Lucy, and Mary; he had been thrown for the last hour completely on his own resources. The sight, therefore, of Diana, with her flushed face and bright eyes and spirited manner, quite cheered the little fellow. He and Diana had often been chums, and he thought it would be rather nice to be chummy with his little sister to-day. "I may as well help you," he said, "but, of course, Di, you can't expect me to do this sort of thing often. I shall most likely be very soon going to school, and then I'll be with fellows, you know." "What's fellows?" asked Diana. "Oh, boys! Of course, when I get with boys, you can't expect me to be much with you." "All wight," answered Diana. "I hope you won't get with no fellows this afternoon, 'cos you is useful to me. Just sit down where you is, and help me to make a bow and arrow." Apollo instantly seated himself on the grass, and Diana threw herself on her face and hands by his side. She raised herself on her elbows and fixed her bright black eyes on her brother's face. She stared very hard at him, and he stared back at her. "Well," she said, "isn't you going to begin?" "Yes," he replied; "but what do you want the bow and arrow for?" "To get my enemies shotted." "Your enemies? What folly this is, Di. You have not got any enemies." "Haven't I? I know better. I won't talk to you about it, 'Pollo." "All right," replied Apollo; "you must tell me, or I won't help you." "There, now!" said Diana, "you's got a howid fwown between your bwows. I don't like it; you's going to be obs'nate. I don't like obs'nate boys." "I mean what I say," replied Apollo. "I know you of old, you monkey. You are up to mischief, and I insist upon hearing all about it." Diana gazed at him solemnly. "Does you like Aunt Jane?" she said, after a pause. "I can't say that I do," replied Apollo. "Does you like that old thing in the nursery--Simpson, they calls her?" "I can't say that I do," replied the boy again. "They is sort of enemies of yours, isn't they?" asked Diana. "Oh! I don't know that I go as far as that," replied Apollo. "But if Aunt Jane makes you do howid lessons all day, and if Simpson is always fussing you and getting you to wash your face and hands, and if you can't never go with _fellows_, and if you is kept in--and if--and if--" "Oh! don't begin all that, Di," said Apollo. "Where is the use of making the worst of things?" "Well, I want to make the best of things," said Diana. "I want to have our enemies shotted wight off." "Do you mean to tell me," said Apollo, laughing, "that you wish to shoot Aunt Jane and that old woman in the nursery?"