“Oh, I say, don’t!” cried Kenneth, roaring with laughter; “you make my sides ache again.”
“Did I say something funny, then?”
“Funny! Why, it’s screaming. Why, half the people go bare-legged here. All the children do.”
“But the things prick one’s feet so, and we might meet with poisonous snakes.”
“Then let’s put them on,” said Kenneth, with mock seriousness. “I did not think about the poisonous snakes.”
He set the example of taking possession of a stone, and, slipping on his check worsted socks and low shoes in a few moments, to jump up again and stand looking down at Max, who made quite a business of the matter. Kenneth gave each foot a kick and a stamp to get rid of the sand. Max proceeded very deliberately to wipe away the sand and scraps of heather from between his toes with one clean pocket-handkerchief, and to polish them with another.
“Oh, they look beautiful and white now!” said Kenneth, with mock seriousness, as he drew his dirk and stropped it on his hand. “Like to trim your toe-nails and cut your corns?”
“No, thank you,” said Max innocently. “I won’t keep you waiting to-day.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” said Kenneth politely.
“There, you are laughing at me again,” cried Max reproachfully.