"By George, you think you're funny, don't you?" But by this time he laughed, too. "Come in, Kenneth," called John Clayton, when they reached the veranda. "No, I thank you," said Kenneth. "Miss Bright has been abusing men, and Englishmen in particular." "Well," responded John Clayton laughingly, "you stood up for our sex, I hope." "I tried to, but Miss Bright came out ahead. Good night, Miss Bright. I hope you'll change your opinion of the Englishman, and that he will not always suffer when compared with your pink of perfection, the American man." When he had gone a short distance, she called him back. "Well?" he said, turning. "I just wished to remind you that it isn't becoming to you to be grouchy." "You wretch!" And he turned on his heel and stalked away. "What's the matter with Kenneth?" asked John Clayton. "Oh," said Esther, indifferently, "he thinks altogether too much of Mr. Kenneth Hastings. He must learn there are other people in the world besides K.H." "Don't be too hard on him," said her host warningly. "No," she said, "I won't. I'll teach him to respect the human being, irrespective of sex, color or previous condition of servitude. Good night." CHAPTER VIII THE COW LASSES It was clear that the character of the work for the Gila girls should differ from that for the men. Esther Bright had thought it all out, but she resolved to let the girls themselves determine, in large measure, what it should be. So they came to visit the school that bright December day to observe. School! Could this be school? Not school as they recalled it, hours of dull monotonous tasks, where punishment, merited or unmerited, stood out in conspicuous boldness. As they now listened, every moment seemed to open the door to knowledge, and a wonderland of surprising interest spread before them. The dull drone of the old-time reading lesson had given place to conversational tones. The children were reading aloud from a bright, vivacious story that caught and held the attention of these untutored girls. To learn to read like the teacher became the proud ambition of these seven visitors. With a simple lesson in physics the interest deepened. Then came the lesson in manual training. The deft fingers of the boys and girls were busy learning the mysteries of tailoring. How to darn a rent in cloth is no easy thing for untrained fingers to learn. Little fingers, big fingers, busily plied the needle. The boys were learning how to repair their clothing. The teacher passed from one to another, helping, encouraging, commending. She held up a beautiful piece of work for the visitors to see. When the school was dismissed for the noon hour, they gathered around Esther. "My!" said one, "I wisht I knowed as much as you do, schoolma'am." "Do you?" asked the teacher, as if to know as much as she did were the easiest thing in the world. "You bet I do!" answered the girl.