One day he sat in the sunlight with a book trying to read and wishing very much to run outdoors and play with the rest of the boys, but kept back by an uncomfortable recollection of a great deal of badgering. The Sharp-eyed Sister was reading in the same room too, and every once in a while she would blink, and wink, and frown, and look about; finally she looked straight at him. "You tiresome object," she cried, "do get out of the sun. I wondered what it was dazzling my eyes like the reflection of seven dozen looking glasses, and there it is your odious buttons." The Boy got out of the sun without a reply; feeling a little restless he moved now and then. "Dear me," said the Mother starting from her nap with a jerk, "you do jingle so." After this the Boy concluded to go out. When his playfellows saw him they all set up a shout but he said to himself, "If I don't think about myself perhaps they won't think of me either," and he met them running with an answering shout. He had never worked so hard at forgetting himself before, and it answered so well that in the ardor of play, by and by, he forgot the buttons too. They began a game of leap-frog, and whether the fault of the back given him or whether his own fault, the Boy missed twice jumping and hurt his temper. He began to dispute about it with the Back, and presently they grew personal. "Look here," cried the Boy angrily, "it _was_ your fault, I say. If I were in fault don't you suppose I'd own it?" "No," said the Back, shortly. The Boy smiled scornfully. "'Cause _you_ don't understand such a thing as owning up when you're in the wrong, eh? You act so. But all fellows aren't made on your pattern, I'd have you know!" "Nor all clothes on yours, Buttons, I'd have you know," said the Back coolly. The Boy glared at him and began to stutter, "You let my clothes alone, d'ye hear?" "Well," said the Back, "you say I don't know how to give a back; I say, if I was buttoned up like you are, I wouldn't know how to take one. I put it to vote--all in favor please say, aye, contrary, no." "Aye!" shouted the boys. "Ayes have it," said the Back. "Now, you know, everybody knows you within ten miles by the name of the Button Boy, and I wouldn't seek any more notoriety if I was you--I'd be content to come in second best on leap-frog and say no more about it." [Illustration: THE BOY GLARED AT HIM. "YOU LET MY CLOTHES ALONE!" SAID HE.] All the boys began to hoot and laugh--none of them sympathized with him in his moments of superiority, and his scornful air failed to impress them as of old. The Button Boy choked by anger and mortification could not reply. But after a moment, "All right for you; I'll be even with you," he said, with a nod to the chief laugher, and went away.