“If they could only come here!” sighed Irene. “I’d rather be here than anywhere else in the world!” “That sounds good!” cried Marjorie, happily. She loved to be with people who were contented. “Is horseback-riding really so wonderful?” asked Doris, who was still a little doubtful about the pleasures of a whole summer on the ranch. She had been eager to be with the girls once more during the vacation, but, had she been consulted, she would have chosen some more civilized resort. “It isn’t entirely the exercise!” laughed Maud. “Irene has other reasons for being so crazy about the place.” “Maud!” said her older sister, reprovingly. “Oh, do tell us the rest!” cried Alice. “It isn’t fair to stop in the middle of something interesting.” “There’s really nothing to tell,” said Irene, coldly. Maud winked at Alice. “I’ll see you in private,” she said, “though I won’t tell any names, Irene!” “Oh, go ahead--I don’t care! It isn’t serious, girls; it’s only silly. But maybe the warning will help some of you. I sort of lost my head about Kirk--he’s terribly good-looking, you know--and he treated me like ice. Don’t any of you show him that he makes the slightest impression on you!” “I should say we won’t!” cried Alice, with true loyalty to another member of her own sex. “Oh, girls, let’s don’t pay any attention at all to him! I hate conceited men! Let’s--” “Sh! Alice! Do be careful!” warned Ethel. “You don’t want the boys to hear you, do you?” “No, of course not, but--” “Why, here he comes!” interrupted Maud. “Now girls, don’t seem impressed by his looks!” “I’m not!” said Alice, stoutly, forcing herself to believe the truth of her assertion. The man who came toward them was dressed in a gray riding suit, so conservative in color and cut, that it presented a decided contrast to the flashy costumes of the younger boys. He was tall, a perfect figure, with big square shoulders. His face would have been handsome had his expression been less disagreeable. Alice immediately marked him for a cynic. When he had come within a few yards of the porch, however, he seemed to change his mind about going any further, for, hesitating only a moment, he abruptly turned about and retraced his steps to his cabin. Bob Hilton, who was already standing in order to make him acquainted with the new arrivals, whistled softly, and dropped again into his seat. “He evidently didn’t like our looks!” remarked Alice. “That’s just the sort of queer, rude thing he is always doing,” said Maud. “What Rene sees in him--” “Oh, I guess I sort of like him just because of his indifference,” returned the other girl. “Come, let’s change the subject! I really think we had better give you girls some instructions about clothes. Those dainty dresses you have on are entirely too good for here. They wouldn’t last two days!” Like most girls, the scouts were all interested in the topic of dress, and discussed it with animation until the supper bell interrupted them.