"Yes," said Ladybird, rising from her seat on the grass, and suddenly acquiring a new dignity as she heard her name pronounced in such a formal tone. Then she looked at him steadily, without a touch of impertinence, but with an air of gravest criticism. She saw a tall, well-built young man with broad, strong shoulders, and a frank, honest face which showed both perception and responsiveness. "You're not an earl," she said; and though her tone showed disappointment, it was more in sorrow than in anger. "How do you know I'm not?" he said, smiling a little. "By your clothes," said Ladybird, simply. "Of course I know you wouldn't wear your coronet and robes; but you'd wear something prettier than blue serge." "I am not an earl," said her visitor; "but if I were, I would wear on this occasion these very same clothes. And now, tell me all about it." With a smile that seemed to compel a comfortable confidence, he motioned Ladybird back to her grassy seat under the plum-tree, and then sat down by her side. "First of all, who are you?" he said. "No; first of all, who are you?" said Ladybird. "Quite right," said the young man; "I accept the rebuke. My name you already know; my home is New York. Just now I'm on my vacation, and in vagrant mood I'm enjoying this part of our country." "Are you a good man?" said Ladybird. "I am a good man," said Humphreys, "though very few people know it; still, I'm prepared to prove it whenever it may be necessary." "Are you accomplished?" said Ladybird. "I can play a few things, work at a few more, and I can sing." "I'm glad you can sing," said Ladybird; "Stella is very fond of music." "But, my dear child," said Humphreys, "I told you I didn't come down here in the interest of that philanthropic scheme of yours; I came only to see you. And now it's your turn to tell me who _you_ are." "Me? Oh, I'm just Ladybird." "Is that your real name?" "No, I suppose not," with a slight frown; "my aunties say it is Lavinia; but I never knew that till I came here. They say, too, I'm fourteen years old; but I know I'm twelve. And they say I used to have yellow hair and blue eyes; but I can't think I ever did, can you?" "It is hard to think so," said Humphreys, looking at the little brown face with its big dark eyes and elfish wisps of straight black hair. "At the same time, I dislike to doubt your aunts' word. Why do they have such apparently contradictory notions?" "I don't know," said Ladybird; "I've only lived here a little while, you know. My mama was my aunts' younger sister, and she ran away with my papa, and they lived in India. And I lived there, too, until papa died; and then I was sent here to aunties'. And at first my aunties didn't like me a bit, and didn't want me to stay; but I had to stay, so of course they had to like me. You can't live with people without liking them, you know." "Can't you?" said Humphreys. "And do you like them?"