Michael did not speak, but watched Mrs. Ross solemnly hand back to
the rosy child sitting beside her in the grass the fallen apples that he
would always fling from him exuberantly, panting the while at laughter's
highest pitch.

"I wonder if I ever laughed like that," said Michael.

"You were a very serious little boy, when I first knew you," Mrs. Ross
told him.

"I must have been rather depressing," Michael sighed.

"No, indeed you were not, dear Michael," she answered. "You had much too
much personality."

"Have I now?" Michael asked sharply.

"Yes, of course you have."

"Well, what gives it to me?"

"Surely personality is something that is born with one. Personality
can't be made," said Mrs. Ross.

"You don't think experience has got anything to do with it?" Michael
pressed.

"I think experience makes the setting, and according to the experience
the personality is perfected or debased, but nothing can destroy
personality, not even death," she murmured, far away for a moment from
this orchard.

"Which would you say had the stronger personality--Alan or I?" asked
Michael.

"I should say you had," said Mrs. Ross. "Or at any rate you have a
personality that will affect a larger number of people, either
favourably or unfavourably."

"But Alan influences me more than I influence him," Michael argued.

"That may be," Mrs. Ross admitted. "Though I think your influence over
Alan is very strong in this way. I think Alan is always very eager to
see you at your best, and probably as your friendship goes on he will be
more solicitous for you than for himself. I should say that he would be
likely to sink himself in you. I wonder if you realize what a
passionately loyal soul he is."

Michael flushed with pleasure at this appreciation of his friend, and
his ambition went flying over to Basingstead Major to inspire Alan to
bat his best. Then he burst forth in praise of him; he spoke of his
changelessness, his freedom from moods, his candour and toleration and
modesty.

"But the terrible thing is," said Michael suddenly, "that I always feel
that without noticing it I shall one day leave Alan behind."

"But when you turn back, you'll find him just the same, don't forget;
and you may be glad that he did not come with you. You may be glad that
from his slowness you can find an indication of the road that I'm sure
you yourself will one day try to take. Alan will travel by it all his
life. You'll travel by it ultim