"Dale," Bob implored, trying to control his laughter, "for the love of Mike cut 'aura' from your vocabulary! Honest, my friend, if you ever should walk into the Colonel's drawing room in that costume and announce that your aura is tinctured with savagery, it would be worse than murder!" Again the mountaineer's face became troubled; indeed, it held an expression of childish helplessness, made so pathetic by a succeeding, shy glance at his awkward costume of homespun, that the young planter winced. "That's all right," he said, contrite enough now, and giving the broad shoulder another friendly slap. "Before long you'll be turning out classier stuff than any of us. And we like your clothes." "I'm a-goin' ter larn," Dale murmured through clenched teeth. "I'm a-goin' ter larn all thar is, 'n' a whole lot moh; so help me Gawd I will." For awhile they rode without speaking until the Colonel was seen waiting at a turn of the road. Then Dale asked: "Ye reckon he meant that, 'bout me livin' with 'im?" "'Course he meant it. He'll make you think you own the place in twenty-four hours, and you won't feel the slightest obligation." "What's obligation?" Patiently Bob went through the definition, and Dale again asked: "Who's the feller he calls Brent?" "He's staying there, too; trying his wings on a survey for a railroad. There's going to be a little road through here some day, and he's looking to it." "How does he?" "Heaven pity us," Bob groaned. "I don't know how does he, Dale. Ask him. Come, let's catch up!" The Colonel was riding slowly ahead, and from the appearance of his back Bob knew him to be sulking. Strong and big and fine as he was in both physique and temperament, his _amour propre_ was an easy thing to wound. Such hurts, however, were quickly healed by his blessed sense of humor, and now as he wheeled and watched them, Bob saw that his spirits were returning. "In the eyes of babes," the old gentleman began, with a humorous twitching about his mouth, "we see the mirror of our age--and, Mr. Dawson, don't ask me what that means for I don't know! But come, gentlemen, it is quite noon, and a cool house is calling us." "When the mint is in the toddy, and the chair is in the shade," Bob hummed, bringing another twinkle of amusement to the old gentleman's lips. "I reckon I'll turn off hyar," Dale said, "'n' go on ter school." "What for?" the Colonel asked. "There's no school today." "Hain't!" the mountaineer turned in a fury. "Why so?" "Why so?" Bob answered, not exactly with patience. "For several reasons, Dale; one being that they don't have school on Saturdays, and another, quite sufficient in itself, that Miss Jane has a headache." "What's Satu'day got ter do with hit?" He asked again, unconscious of the other's growing ill humor. "You darned boob," Bob laughed, "don't you know that Saturday is a holiday? It always is! They never have school on that day!"