“Not at all,” he rejoined, heartily. “That little chap's freaks would mystify anybody, especially with Dave humoring 'em the ridiculous way he does. Hamilton Swift, Junior, is the curiousest child I ever saw--and the good Lord knows He made all children powerful mysterious! This poor little cuss has a complication of infirmities that have kept him on his back most of his life, never knowing other children, never playing, or anything; and he's got ideas and ways that I never saw the beat of! He was born sick, as I understand it--his bones and nerves and insides are all wrong, somehow--but it's supposed he gets a little better from year to year. He wears a pretty elaborate set of braces, and he's subject to attacks, too--I don't know the name for 'em--and loses what little voice he has sometimes, all but a whisper. He had one, I know, the day after Beasley brought him home, and that was probably the reason you thought Dave was carrying on all to himself about that jumping-match out in the back-yard. The boy must have been lying there in the little wagon they have for him, while Dave cut up shines with 'Bill Hammersley.' Of course, most children have make-believe friends and companions, especially if they haven't any brothers or sisters, but this lonely little feller's got HIS people worked out in his mind and materialized beyond any I ever heard of. Dave got well acquainted with 'em on the train on the way home, and they certainly are giving him a lively time. Ho, ho! Getting him up at four in the morning--” Mr. Dowden's mirth overcame him for a moment; when he had mastered it, he continued: “Simpledoria--now where do you suppose he got that name?--well, anyway, Simpledoria is supposed to be Hamilton Swift, Junior's St. Bernard dog. Beasley had to BATHE him the other day, he told me! And Bill Hammersley is supposed to be a boy of Hamilton Swift, Junior's own age, but very big and strong; he has rosy cheeks, and he can do more in athletics than a whole college track-team. That's the reason he outjumped Dave so far, you see.” V Miss Apperthwaite was at home the following Saturday. I found her in the library with Les Miserables on her knee when I came down from my room a little before lunch-time; and she looked up and gave me a smile that made me feel sorry for any one she had ceased to smile upon. “I wanted to tell you,” I said, with a little awkwardness but plenty of truth, “I've found out that I'm an awful fool.” “But that's something,” she returned, encouragingly--“at least the beginning of wisdom.” “I mean about Mr. Beasley--the mystery I was absurd enough to find in 'Simpledoria.' I want to tell you--”