"I don't know," she answered.

"If it had not been for you I could have caught Aleck."

"I am so sorry," Dora said again, in such a mournful tone that the boy laughed.

"You needn't think I care! Aleck knows I can catch him. Do you like to run?"

"I haven't tried it very often lately. I think you could catch me," she answered.

"I probably could; as a general thing girls aren't much on running, but you should see Louise!"

"Who is she?" asked Dora.

"She is my sister; I thought everybody knew Louise."

"I don't know any one," was the reply in a mournful tone.

"Don't you really?" Carl asked, sitting up very straight; "and is that the reason you are over here by yourself?"