"Don't know but you are--quite, quite different. You seem so much older than Arthur." "Well that all depends," said Skippy, ready to draw on his imagination. "You've seen a lot of life, haven't you?" "Yes I suppose so." "I saw that--in your hands." "I say, how about reading my character now?" "No, not now, sometime later, perhaps." "Perhaps?" "Well I don't know if I'd dare. What are you doing to-morrow?" "Nothing particular." "Suppose we get up a hay ride and a picnic. The moon will be glorious." "Bacon and roast corn? Hurray!" said Skippy, most unromantically. Vivi got up suddenly. "Let's go back." "All right, but it's awfully dark." "Follow me." Skippy walked purposely into the first flower bed. "Help, I'm lost!" Vivi stood considering. "Are you sorry?" "Dreadfully. Ouch, I'm in a rose bush!" "And you promise not to be cynical and aloof?" "Cross my heart and hope to die," said Skippy, very well pleased with himself. Immediately the hand was offered and retained. To be magnanimous he gave it a little extra squeeze. "That's not fair," said Vivi. "All's fair in love and war," said Skippy who, under the influence of outward conditions, momentarily forgot his role. * * * * * "My aunt's cat's pants," said Snorky enviously, when they had departed. "You're getting to be a rapid worker, old top, you certainly are!" "Oh I've learned a thing or two," said Skippy pompously. "Splash with your toes, old horse," said Snorky, shaking his head. "Look out, Vivi's an old stager. She collects them." "What?" "Scalps," said Snorky with a significant gesture. "Just watch me." "You don't say so." "I've got her feeding out of my hand, gentle as a lamb," said Skippy, remembering with a pleasant tickling sensation the mystified fascination of her way of looking at him. "Cheese it," said Snorky shaking his head. "This is different." "Whoa, old horse, whoa!" "Snorky, old gal," said Skippy, who had now settled down into the predatory vision Miss Vivi had artfully evoked, "it's easy when you know the game." "And what's the game?" "Don't get tagged." "Elucidate." "Keep 'em running after you. It's the first one who runs away who wins every time." "Oh, simple as that?" "Sure, that's all there is to it." "Let 'em love you, eh?" "Oh well," said Skippy modestly, but as he sought his bed he stole a satisfied glance into the mirror. CHAPTER XXXVI SPLASHING WITH YOUR TOES