“No. I wouldn’t have done it then if I’d stopped to think how much you would care.”
“Oh, you dear Dick!”
She gave him a loving hug.
“But it was awfully funny!” he cried, his laughter beginning to bubble up within him. “Oh, you should have seen Billy when I let the old thing bang against his heels! Oh, dear! how he did jump! Oh, my! how he did kick! Then he brayed and kicked, and the old pail came banging back against his heels every time. And he rolled his eyes round at it and looked so comical—so comical! Oh, ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!”
The elfish laughter of the strange lad filled the forest with its merry sound. Convulsed with merriment over the remembrance, Dick lay on the ground and clung to his sides, while Felicia stood near, compelled to laugh despite herself.
“Oh, you’re so happy, Dick!” she said.
Quick as a flash the laughter stopped and the merriment left his face.
“I’m not happy!” he said, sitting up.
“Not happy?” she gasped.
“No, I’m miserable!” he declared.