“I hope she doesn’t mean anything!” murmured Hodge, reddening somewhat.
“It seems to me she does,” laughed Frank.
Mabel found an opportunity to chat with Jack before Northport was reached. They came to a hill that was not particularly difficult, but she complained that her wheel ran hard, and said something was the matter with it. She asked Jack if he would not examine it, and so they dismounted at the foot of the hill.
Diamond looked over the wheel in a systematic manner, but could find nothing the matter with it. He got out his oiler and oiled it. Then Mabel said she did not feel like riding up the hill, so they walked up together, for the Virginian would not leave her.
Now, Mabel Mischief was the kind of a girl to attract the Virginian. Jack was dark and passionate, while she was light and gay. Without appearing to, she brought all her arts to bear on him in the short time given her to do so, but the result was not what she expected, for he did not seem at all impressed. On reaching favorable ground, he said:
“Now, Miss Mitshef, we can overtake the others in a short time.”
He did not even venture to call her Miss Mischief, although everyone else did so, but was particular to pronounce her name correctly.
“I do not like to ride fast,” she smiled, looking up at him. “We are in sight of them. What is the need of hurrying?”
“I didn’t know,” said Jack. “I thought you would enjoy being with your friends.”
“I am satisfied with present company,” she laughed.