"Are you sure you weren't born so?" May asked, good-humoredly.
"I'll have that hat to pay you for insulting me!" cried Philip.
He made a dash for the hat; May thrust out her foot suddenly and Philip measured his length in the dust.
The boys shouted for more, but May, who was "no fighter," walked quickly away.
"I'll be even with you, yet," Philip muttered angrily.
But it might have been observed that he made no effort to overtake May.
CHAPTER XVII
CONCERNING PHILIP
May sat on a pile of hay in the lower barn, trimming the doll's hat she had bought in the village, singing as she worked. Three days had passed since she made the purchase and this was the first opportunity to add a beautiful feather found in the barn yard and a bow of ribbon to Maud Madeleine's new head gear. She had drilled every morning with greater success than had attended her maiden effort, thanks to the General's increased solicitude and a little device of her own which enabled her to handle her rifle without fear of instant death.