Jim McCullen was putting up a new tent down near the edge of the stream for the accommodation of the ladies. The girl went over to where he was at work and assisted him by steadying one pole while he fastened the canvas in position. "How's the ranch, Jim?" she asked. "Mrs. Van Rensselaer hasn't had time to tell me yet." "Well, it's about the same as ever," replied McCullen slowly. "I reckon your father's gettin' pretty lonesome without you. Feels like a lost horse by now. That there little Rosebush--Rosehill, he and them Cresmonds have gone back East to get ready fer the great weddin' they're talkin' about. Them folks seem to think it's a mighty fine thing to catch a lord er an earl. But it always seemed to me that the Almighty left out a whole pile in order to give some o' them fellers a title. Forgot Rosehill's brains entirely, an' he ain't no bigger'n a minute, neither." "I guess you're right, about him," said Hope, kneeling beside McCullen as he fashioned a stake pin more to his liking. "I hope that outfit won't come out here another year; I don't like them very well. It's nice and sweet out here on the grass, isn't it? I don't mind staying here at all to-night. I don't see what makes me feel so sleepy and drowsy though, but I do--sort of tired, as though I wanted to get away and go to bed. I haven't ridden far to-day either--only a few miles after school. Jim, I wish I were back to-night at the ranch--I wish I could go and say good-night to my father, and go away to my own room." McCullen looked up from the peg he was driving, and remarked: "I'll warrent you'll have as good a night's sleep out here in this tent as you would at home on the ranch. Plenty o' fresh air an' no misquitoes to bother. But I reckon your father'd like to see you just the same to-night." "But he doesn't want me to go home until I've finished this school up here. I'm earning fifty dollars a month. How much are you?" "A hundred," replied McCullen. "But, look a-here, your father _said_ that, but he'd be mighty glad to have you drop in on him one o' these times. He's the sorriest father you ever seen!" "But I shall stay, Jim, just as long as there is school here," said Hope decidedly. "So don't _you_ try to get me to go home. Everyone else is. Sydney all the time, then Larry O'Hara. I'm glad he's gone over to camp with the soldiers. They're farther away than I thought. Louisa and I rode over in that direction after school, but only got to the top of the tall butte over there. We could see them where they were camped on Fox Creek, but it was too far to go, so we went back to Harris'. Larry was all the time urging me to go home while he was here--and now Clarice has come. But I won't go, Jim, until the school ends." "Well, you just make the best of it," replied McCullen. "I like your grit. I'm a-goin' to stay right here so's to be near you whatever happens." "Jim," said the girl suddenly, "were you ever nervous?"