on your thinkin' caps and keep 'em on a minute. Down to West Point,
where some of us is hankerin' to be, they don't allow no lyin'. A broken
promise is the worst kind of a lie. So before you pledge your word, gals
and boys alike, you--_think_. Think hard, think deep. I'll time ye. When
one minute is up, to the second, I'll call for your answer. Everybody
turn their eyes inside themselves and--_think_."

With that the wise and shrewd old fellow pulled his silver time-piece
from his pocket and placed it in the hollow of his hand. Then he fixed
his eyes upon its white face and stood motionless, watching the second
hand make its little circuit. When the sixty seconds had been counted,
he held up his hand with profound gravity and called:

"All in favor of forming a new Company, say 'Aye!' Contrary 'No!'"

Every hand went up--but Leslie's. Every voice uttered an earnest "Aye!"
save his, and Dorothy flashed an indignant, as well as disappointed
glance upon him, exclaiming:

"Oh! What a mean--I mean, what a rude boy! When all your guests are just
suffering to be soldiers, you go and spoil the whole business. Why do
you do that?"

The lad flushed. He had been duly instructed by both parents in the
duties of a host, even a young one; and he knew it was his business to
see that all his guests were helped to enjoy themselves as they, not he,
desired. It was the first time that he had had any responsibility of
this sort and it didn't greatly please him. Now when he found they were
all looking at him in that aggrieved way he tossed his head, thrust his
hands into his pockets, and answered:

"I know I proposed it and thought I'd like it, but I've changed my mind
and now think it would get to be a confounded nuisance. I've never done
anything, regularly, as you talk about, and I don't see any use in
beginning at this late day when--"

"When you're getting so old and infirm, poor dear!" said Molly,
interrupting. In reality she cared little what they did at San Leon, so
long as they were all together and having a good time. But she saw on
Dorothy's expressive face a keener disappointment than the affair seemed
to warrant and loyally placed herself in support of her chum.

Leslie went on as if she hadn't spoken, though he glanced her way with a
promise in his eyes to "get even" with her for that mockery:

"We're up here on the mountains for a summer holiday. What's the use of
making it a work day, then? It would be work--sure e