rapidly disappear along the road in front of them.

"I'm glad we're doing a deed of charity, Midget," said her brother, "for
if we weren't I shouldn't relish this long walk very much."

"Now, King, don't go and spoil your noble deed by growling about it! It
was lovely of you to let that girl ride in your place, but if you're
going to kick about walking, you'll spoil it all."

"I'm not kicking. And anyway, Mops, you were the noble one yourself. You
walked just so I shouldn't be lonesome."

"'Course I did! What's lots of fun for two is awful poky for one. Come
on, I'll race you to that big sticking-out tree!"

They flew along the road with their heels kicking out behind, and though
King reached the tree first, he was only a few steps ahead of Marjorie,
who came up panting, and threw herself on the grass by his side.

"We mustn't do that again," she said, "it makes us too much out of
breath, and we can't walk afterward. Now let's rest a minute, and then
walk on just middling fast,--because it's a long way yet. What time do
you suppose we'll get there?"

"Pomp said if we'd walk straight along we ought to get to the inn by
half-past twelve. They won't have lunch till we get there."

"You bet they won't! Do you know where the inn is?"

"Well, I've never been there, but when we get to Pelton I rather guess we
can find the inn! Come on, Mops, if you're rested, we'd better get a move
on!"

Then they trudged on together, finding the way very pleasant, and many
things to interest them as they passed along.

The road was a public highway, and there were many motor cars and much
other traffic.

But as the children kept on a grassy path by the side of the road they
were in no danger, and there was no possibility of losing their way.

"It's just a matter of keeping at it," said King, "but it does seem
longer than I thought. We're not halfway yet."

"How do you know?"

"'Cause Pomp said when we came to the sign-board pointing to Mossville
we'd be halfway, and we haven't come to that yet."

"What makes you call him Pomp?"

"Oh, just for short; and besides he's kind of pompous, you know,--sort of
stuffy and English."

"Yes, he is. I like him, though, and I think he's going to like us, but
he doesn't understand us yet. I hope Father will ask that lame girl to
lunch with us. I think she looked hungry."

"She looked awful poor, and I s'pose poor folks are always hungry. It
must be awful to be always hungry, Mops!"