"Come out for a while," cried Kent.
"I can't. I've got company. Come on up and get warm," returned Lydia.
The two boys slipped off their skates and came up to the cottage. Kent needed no introduction, and Lydia made short work of Charlie by saying to the assemblage at large, "This is Charlie Jackson. Come on up by the stove, boys."
The boys established themselves on the couch back of the baseburner.
"Hello, Marg," said Kent. "What you doing?"
"Paper dolls," returned Margery from her corner, without looking up. Charlie Jackson stared at the beautiful little black head bent over the bright colored bits of paper with interest.
Amos took up the interrupted conversation. "If we could get a Republican Congress, that block o' pine and black loam twenty miles north would be given to its rightful owners."
"Meaning the full bloods, I suppose," said Levine with a short laugh.
"Yes—full blooded whites," returned Amos.
Charlie Jackson suddenly threw back his head and rose.