rolled off a log is unknown;
but such an act would have been no more difficult for her than to corner
Mister Masters. The man courted cornering, especially by her. But given
the desired situation, neither could make anything of it. Mister
Masters's tongue became forthwith as helpless as a man tied hand and
foot and gagged. He had nothing with which to pay for the delight of
being cornered but his rosiest, steadiest blush and his crookedest and
most embarrassed smile. But he retained a certain activity of mind and
within himself was positively voluble with what he would say if he only
could.

I don't mean that the pair sat or stood or walked in absolute silence.
Indeed, little Miss Blythe could never be silent for a long period nor
permit it in others, but I mean that with the lines and the machinery of
a North Atlantic liner, their craft of propinquity made about as much
progress as a scow. Nevertheless, though neither was really aware of
this, each kept saying things, that cannot be put into words, to the
other; otherwise the very first cornering of Mister Masters by little
Miss Blythe must have been the last. But even as it was way back at the
beginning of things, and always will be, Beauty spoke to Handsome and
Handsome up and spoke back.

"No," said little Miss Blythe, upon being sharply cross-questioned by
Mrs. Hotchkiss, "he practically never does say anything."

Mrs. Hotchkiss dug a little round hole in the sand with her long black
cane, and made an insulting face at little Miss Blythe.

"Some men," said she, "can't say 'Boo' to a goose."

If other countries produce girls like little Miss Blythe, I have never
met a specimen; and I feel very sure that foreign young ladies do not
become personages at the age of seventeen. When she met Mister Masters
she had been a personage for six years, and it was time for her to yield
her high place to another; to marry, to bear children, and to prove that
all the little matters for which she was celebrated were merely passing
phases and glitterings of a character which fundamentally was composed
of simple and noble traits.

Little Miss Blythe had many brothers and sisters; no money, as we reckon
money; and only such prospects as she herself might choose from
innumerable offers. She was little; her figure looked best in athletic
clothes (low neck didn't do well with her, because her face was tanned
so brown) and she was strong and quick as a pony. All the year round she
k