“My brother taught me something about it, but I want to learn lots more,” she explained.
Kirk threw himself upon the ground beside her, and watched her with amusement. He, who was so indifferent to girls himself, was not used to finding them indifferent to him.
“If you hadn’t run away from me,” he remarked, “I’d have been glad to ask you to go fishing with me.”
Marjorie shot him a withering glance. He certainly seemed pleased with himself!
“Clayton is perfectly willing to help me, and he says Pop Welsh, who knows more about fishing than anybody else on the ranch, will be glad to give me some instructions. So you see, Mr. Smith, I shall hardly need your services!”
The rest of the party arrived, and soon everyone was busy with their preparations for lunch. The boys made a fire, while Mrs. Hilton, assisted by the girls, unpacked the food and spread it out on the ground.
It was not until they were seated, and the meal in progress, that the young people began to question Marjorie about her disappearance. Clayton laughed, and Marjorie dismissed the matter with a shrug of the shoulders. She had decided that in the presence of both Kirk and Irene she would be absolutely non-committal.
“And are you going back the same way?” asked Lily.
“If Mr. Hilton will give us the permission,” replied Marjorie.
“But suppose I don’t agree!” put in Kirk.