fell asleep marvelling that the men employed at the mills should
assert that the Fernalds were frigid and snobby.

CHAPTER VI

MORE GUESTS

When with shining eyes Ted told his father about Mr. Fernald's visit to
the shack, Mr. Turner simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled
indulgently.

"Likely Mr. Clarence's curiosity got the better of him," said he, "and
he wanted to look your place over and see that it warn't too good; or
mebbe he just happened to be going by. He never would have taken the
trouble to go that far out of his way if he hadn't had something up his
sleeve. When men like him are too pleasant, I'm afraid of 'em. And as
for Mr. Laurie _dropping in_--why, his father and grandfather would no
more let him associate with folks like us than they'd let him jump
headfirst into the river. We ain't good enough for the Fernalds.
Probably almost nobody on earth is. And when it comes to Mr. Laurie,
why, in their opinion the boy doesn't live who is fit to sit in the
same room with him."

Ted's bright face clouded with disappointment.

"I never thought of Mr. Laurie feeling like that," answered he.

"Oh, I ain't saying Mr. Laurie himself is so high and mighty. He ain't.
The poor chap has nothing to be high and mighty about and he knows it.
Anybody who is as dependent on others as he is can't afford to tilt his
nose up in the air and put on lugs. For all I know to the contrary he
may be simple as a baby. It's his folks that think he's the king-pin
and keep him in cotton wool." Mr. Turner paused, his lip curling with
scorn. "You'll never see Mr. Laurie at your shack, mark my words. His
people would not let him come even if he wanted to."

The light of eagerness in his son's countenance died entirely.

"I suppose you're right," admitted he slowly and with evident
reluctance.

Although he would not have confessed it, he had been anticipating, far
more than he would have been willing to own, the coming of Mr. Laurie.
Over and over again he had lived in imagination his meeting with this
fairy prince whose grave, wistful face and pleasant smile had so
strongly attracted him. He had speculated to himself as to what the
other boy was like and had coveted the chance to speak to him, never
realizing that they were not on an equal plane. Mr. Fernald's
suggestion of Laurie visiting the shack seemed the most natural thing
in the world, and immediately after it had been made Ted's fancy had
run riot, and he had lea