"Oh, no; let me stay just a little while. It's all so gay and they dance so—so—isn't it like a fairy ring?"
Norah laughed. "Well, I'll take another round, then we must go. You keep her just about here, then I shall know where to find you. Aren't you tired, though?"
"Oh, not a bit."
Her eyes shone like stars and there was a most delicious color in her cheeks like the dainty first ripeness of a peach.
"There's a tree over there—go and sit down. I won't be long."
The great tree had been cut down and there were no end of chips lying about.
"Now, if I was home I'd get a basket and gather them up," said Ned. "Mother thinks they make such a splendid fire. It's odd that our fathers were out in the war together, and are real good friends. I mean to be a soldier."
"But if there isn't any war?"
"There'll be Indian wars until they are all cleared out. They're a treacherous lot and never keep their word. And governments need an army all the time."
"But it's dreadful to fight and kill each other."