"Oh, Lav, I'm so _glad_ you are sorry that I am going. We have had such fun together and you see I've never known any boys before--oh, except the ones I've met at parties and things and they're terribly stupid. But you have been such a peach to me and showed me how to do everything just as though I was a boy. I'll miss you, too, Lav--" "Oh, no, you won't. I mean it isn't the same," muttered Lavender, his shoulders quiet now. Across his face settled a sullenness that Sidney had never seen on it. She did not like it; it made him look ugly. She turned away. The boy went on, in a thick voice. "Y'see, I never do anything with anyone because, well--I'm different. That's why. I c'n always see them lookin' at me curious or pitying and I won't stand it! I just _won't_. I hate it. That's why I wouldn't ever go to school. Some of the kids wouldn't come near me--'fraid of touchin' me, I guess. And some'd _try_ to touch me--for luck, y'know. It's always been like that--and I get awful lonesome. But some day when I'm grown up I'm going to save money and go away. Out in the big cities there are lots of people that are different--all kinds of shapes and colors and everything and they are too busy to stop to pity you. Mr. Dugald says so. I'm goin' to study and learn to be a doctor. Not the kind that goes around to see folks like Dr. Blackwell but the kind that works in a big laboratory and finds out what cures the sick people. They are just as important Mr. Dugald says. And no one will _see_ me then--they'll just _know_ about me. I don't care how old I am, I'm going to do it some time." Before the sudden fire in his voice Sidney's heart quickened with excitement. Why, Lavender was revealing to her his innermost soul and it was fine and straight, just as Mr. Dugald had said. "Oh, Lavender, you're _wonderful_!" she cried, her eyes shining. "It must be grand to know just what you want to do and I hope you _won't_ have to wait until you're very old. I'm glad you told me. Only, only--" a doubt assailed her. "Won't you _have_ to go to school?" Lavender flushed. "Sometime, I s'pose. But not here. Mr. Dugald understands how it is and he's helped me. And he says I know more than the other fellows in the grade I'd be in if I had kept on going. He sends me books all winter long and Miss Letty hears me and she got some examination papers from the teachers at school and I tried them and gee, they were a cinch. Only don't tell anyone--Mart, anyway," he admonished, in sudden alarm. "It's a secret between me and Mr. Dugald and Miss Letty. Let 'em think I'm a loafer." The sullen look that had made Lavender's face so ugly disappeared under Sidney's understanding. And she in turn forgot her own sorrow in her joy of Lavender's confidences. Now the golden sun and the dancing water gladdened her and lifted her spirit; all _was_ well in the world.