off the tarpaulin sailor hat right gallantly.

Then they were gone, and no sooner was the masquerader left to her fate than the boy in front commenced to make talk,—

"My name is Philip Guy Brentwood,—what is yours?"

"Miss Walcott," May answered with great dignity and entire forgetfulness of her part.

"'Miss' Walcott? That's a queer name for a boy! Where are you going, Miss Walcott?"

"To Cedarville."

"I may see you there, although I don't associate with everybody in Cedarville. My grandpapa, Dr. Brentwood, is the biggest man there."

"How big is he?" May asked, with eager interest. "As big as a dime museum man?"

"I don't mean that kind of big; he's the richest man in Cedarville."

"He is a cad," thought May.

"Are you going to board in Cedarville?" questioned inquisitive Philip Guy.

"I shall visit my uncle, General Haines."

"He's a queer duck. You won't have any fun there. Who were those people with you?"

"My brother and our man-servant, Thomas."

Philip laughed. "Your brother?" he repeated. "Is that pretty little girl your brother?"

"That's another mistake!" thought May. "It's getting worse and worse!"

"I say," Philip continued. "You kissed that man; you must be an awful sissy to kiss men."

Truly, it was getting "worse and worse!" A real boy would have known how to put an end to this inquisition, but May was merely an unsuccessful imitation of a boy. A desire to be courteous and a determination not to be bullied by Philip strove for ascendency in May's mind; the latter undoubtedly would have won had not the conductor passed along just then.

"Conductor!" cried May. "Will you take me into another car, please?"

"Certainly, Master Walcott," the conductor replied.

Then, much to Philip's astonishment, May followed the conductor into the next car. Neither child scored a victory, but May was not beaten, thanks to the girl's quick brain under the boy's hat.

The conductor proved a more agreeable traveling companion than Philip, and the ride to Cedarville, which was not long, was a pleasant one.

General Haines' man-servant was awaiting Gay's arrival, and as they were about to drive away from the station, Philip came up to the carriage.

"You ran away because you were afraid!" he cried, mockingly.

"Yes," May replied, "I was 'afraid' that I should have to talk to you."

Philip did not appear to be offended at this plain speaking. "You're not such a slow sort, after all," said he, patronizingly.

"Thank you."

Philip asked another question:

"Is Miss—your name—the short for Mississippi?

"No, the short for Mischief!" retorted May, by way of a parting shot.

No one was visible when they reached the General's, but the man told May to "go in." The outside door was open and a tall man, dressed in what May thought to be livery, was in the hall. Toward this person she advanced boldly, despite his forbidding aspect.

"Butler," said May, "will you tell General Haines that Ma—Gay Walcott is here?"

"Butler!" thundered the General, for of course it was he. "You young scapegrace, what do you mean by such impudence?"

"It was a mistake. I beg your pardon, sir."

This apology, made in May's most deferential manner, did not appease the General's wrath. He immediately detected a fresh cause for offense.

"Where is your hat?" he demanded, with a fierce frown. "Bless me! A Walcott to keep on his hat in the presence of a superior!"

May pulled off the offending tarpaulin and made a prim little bow, but the General ignored this tardy evidence of breeding and walked away, leaving his abashed young visitor alone in the great oak hall.

CHAPTER VI
BEING A BOY

Sarah and Phyllis were in the dining-room when the General burst in.

"He's here!" he announced, in much the tone of voice he might have used in speaking of the advent of a formidable enemy.

"Who's here? Oh, that boy! Where is he?" asked Sarah.

"In the hall—he will be a great disappointment to you."

"He won't be a disappointment to me. I never took any stock in him at any time."

"He is wholly without manners. Kept on his hat, and took me for a butler!"

Sarah laughed outright. "What a droll little lad!" she said.

"Do you think it 'droll' for a young jackanapes to insult me?"

"No insult about it," replied Sarah, whose feelings toward the visitor seemed to have taken a sudden change. "Natural mistake—your outlandish clothes——"

"'Outlandish clothes!'" gasped the General.

"That is what I said," answered Sarah, composedly.

"Outlandish—!" The General did not complete the sentence; his emotions overcame him and he left the room.

"Phyllis, see where that boy is!" commanded Sarah.

"Yes'm."

"Make him comfortable till I come."

"Yes'm."

May was sitting on the stairs, waiting to learn her fate in this strange household, when Phyllis appeared.

"Poor little fellow!" thought Phyllis, moved by the picture of woe May unconsciously made. Aloud, she asked,—

"Are you General Haines' nephew?"

"I suppose I am at present."

"Miss Sarah will be along in a minute," said Phyllis, thinking that May's peculiar remark was due to confusion.

"Who is Miss Sarah?" May asked, in alarm. "Is she—another?"

Phyllis' eyes twinkled. "Yes," said she. "Miss Sarah is another!"

"Is she like the General?" May ventured to ask.

"The General is a baby beside her."

"Oh, what shall I do?" And May clasped her hands and gazed entreatingly into her companion's kind face.

"She'll like you fast enough, if the General doesn't," Phyllis said, consolingly. "That's her way—what he likes she doesn't; what he doesn't like she thinks a heap of."

"What very queer people," May said.

"I guess you'd think so, if you worked for 'em!" Then reflecting that it was neither loyal nor politic to speak so freely of her employers, Phyllis added, "Not that they are not nice in their way."

"I don't think I'd like their way," May said, with a decided shake of her head.

"What would you like to do?" Phyllis inquired, mindful of Sarah's injunction to make the boy comfortable.

"I'd like to go home, but I suppose I shall have to stay till mother's better," May replied, dolefully.

"Come, now, don't look so sober," said Phyllis, pleasantly. "I know a real nice place in the orchard, and we'll go there. I go by myself whenever I can get my work done. That isn't often," with a sigh. "Miss Sarah is one o' the kind that doesn't believe in getting work done; she keeps me doing it."

"How dreadful!" cried May, who didn't know that Phyllis' comment on Sarah's disposition would apply perfectly to many another notable housewife.

"Here she comes," said Phyllis, softly.

May followed the direction of Phyllis' gaze with eager interest, and when she saw an attractive figure in wonderful attire advancing toward them, she cried, unwarily,—

"What a lovely, lovely dress! I wish I had one like it."

While Phyllis was pondering this extraordinary feminine remark May sprang forward to meet Sarah, who was so favorably impressed with this impulsive movement that she shook hands with the General's young relative very cordially, saying, pleasantly,—

"I am glad to see you, Gay. I hope you will enjoy your visit here."

"Thank you, I'm sure I shall if I may stay with you and Phyllis a good deal," May responded, with