"Dan, you _are_ stupid; I wonder sometimes if I shall ever make you understand how dull you are on _one_ particular subject. At present I’d rather you would not know. As for doing the favor you asked, I won’t because I have a reason which I believe justifies my refusing. You know how obstinate I am, everybody who knows me is of the same opinion on the subject. Why not try to trust me? As to the effect the past winter has had, I do feel older and more self-reliant. Mary Gilchrist was ill almost the entire winter and I had the care of her, then I was the housekeeper for the Camp Fire girls. Never apologize to me for _your_ stupidity, Dan, dear, which I don’t think is apparent to any one save you. Among the Sunrise Camp Fire, no one even thinks of disputing the recognized fact that I am the least clever of all the girls. I do not even mind especially. I find life interesting and after all one cannot make oneself over altogether!"
[Illustration: "I Wonder if I Shall Ever Make You Understand How Dull You Are on One Particular Subject."]
For the first time in the interview Dan laughed, a good natured, boyish laugh, full of strength and sweetness.
"If you are stupid, Sally, then I am proud to be in the same company with you. I should like to know what Tante thinks of you! You may be less interested in books and more in human beings."
A lantern in one of the trees overhead swung and tilted so that the light shone down on her face.
Sally wore her rose-colored net and had a scarf of the same rose color about her shoulders. Tucked under her brown coil of hair in the fashion of the women who had danced in this old southern house and paraded its lawns a century ago, was a pink rose, a little crumpled now and faded.
Dan put up his hand and touched the rose gently, one could scarcely have thought there could be such gentleness in the strong fingers.
"Give me your rose, please, Sally; I don’t know just why I want it, but I do. I never could see much sense in fellows wanting to hold on to things like this before."
Sally jumped up suddenly and the little rose fell to the ground.
"Please be careful, Dan, here comes Tante and she may see you. I don’t know what she would think."
The girl’s movement arrested Mrs. Burton’s attention.