human
A clever youngster, he told his wife, watching him from across the room.
gpt
Brains. But I don't like him.
human
Stephen! Why not?
gpt
I don't know yet. But I know. I had a curious sense, as he came limping into the room to-night, of '_Enter the villain_.'
human
My dear,--that poor, frail boy, with his lovely, gentle manners!
gpt
I know. It does sound rather piffle. Daresay I'm wrong. The kids will size him up.
human
This has been very jolly, Mrs. Lorimer. It was good of you to let me come. Mother asked me to say how much she appreciated it. But --he hesitated--
gpt
May I come in some afternoon when--just you and Miss Honor are here?
human
Of course you may, my dear boy! Mrs. Lorimer gave him the glory of her special smile.
gpt
Come soon!
human
Let's sit in the garden, shan't we?--I hate being indoors a minute more than I can help! She led the way across the green, springy lawn to the little rustic building over which the vivid Bougainvillæa climbed and swarmed, and he followed at his halted pace.
gpt
Besides, we can see Jimsy from here when he comes by from football practice, and call him in. I just didn't happen to go to watch practice to-day, and now --she smiled at him,--
human
I'm glad I didn't.
gpt
Tell me about this fellow King. Every one seems very keen about him.
human
Well, I don't know how to begin! He's--well, he's just Jimsy King, that's all! But it's more than any other boy in the world.
gpt
You're great friends, aren't you?
human
Jimsy and I? I should say we are! We've known each other ever since--well, before we could walk or talk! Our nurses used to take us out together in our buggies. We were born next door--in these two houses, on the same day. Jimsy's just about an hour older than I am!
gpt
I have never had many friends, said Carter Van Meter.
human
I've been moving about so much, traveling ... other things have interfered.
gpt
Well, you can have all you want now, said Honor, generously.
human
And Jimsy likes you! She bestowed that like a decoration.
gpt
Honestly, I never knew him to take such a fancy to any one before in all his life. He likes every one, you know,--I mean, he never dislikes anybody, but he never gets crushes. So, it means something to have him keen about you. If _he's_ for you, _everybody_ will be for you.
human
Why do people like him so?
gpt
Can't help it, said Honor, briefly.
human
Even _teachers_. He's not terribly clever at school, and of course he doesn't have as much time to study as some do, but the teachers are all keen about him. They know what he is. I expect that's what counts, don't you? Not what people have, or do, or know; what they _are_. Why, one time I happened to be in the Vice-Principal's office about something, and it was a noontime, and there was a wild rough-house down in the yard. Honestly, you couldn't hear yourself _think_! The Principal--he was a new man, just come--kept looking out of the window, and getting more and more nervous, and finally he said, 'Shouldn't we stop that, Mrs. Dalton?' And she looked out and laughed and said, 'Jimsy King's in it, and he'll stop it before we need to notice it!' _That's_ what teachers think of him, and the boys--I believe they'd cut up into inch pieces for him.
gpt
I suppose it's a good deal on account of his football. He's on the team, isn't he?
human
On the team? He _is_ the team! Captain last year and this,--and next! Wait till you see him play. He's the fastest full back we've ever had, since anybody can remember. There'll be a game Saturday. We play Redlands. Will you come, and sit with Stepper and me?
gpt
Thanks. I don't care very much for---- he stopped, held up by the growing amaze in her face.
human
Yes, I'd like very much to go with you and Mr. Lorimer. I don't care much about watching games where I don't know the people --he retrieved and amended his earlier sentence--
gpt
I'm afraid I won't be very nice about talking to you. I get simply wild, at games. I'm right down there, in it. I've never gotten over not being a boy! But Jimsy's wonderful about letting me have as much share in it as I can. You'll hear all sorts of tales about him, when you come to know people,--plays he's made and games he's won, and how he never, _never_ loses his head or his temper, no matter what the other team does. If we should ever have another war, I expect he'd be a great general. Her face broke into mirth again at a memory.
human
Once, we were playing Pomona--imagine a high school playing a college and _beating_ them!--and somebody was out for a minute, and Jimsy was standing waiting, with his arms folded across his chest, and he had on a head guard, and it was very still, and suddenly a girl's voice piped up--'_Oh, doesn't he look just like Napoleon?_' He's never heard the last of it; it fusses him awfully. I never knew anybody so modest. I suppose it's because he's always been the leader, the head of things, ever since he started kindergarten. He's _used_ to it; it seems just natural to him.
gpt
Shall we go in the house? Would you be more comf --she caught herself up--
human
It's very nice here. You go to Los Angeles High School, too? He didn't care about changing his position but he wanted intensely to change the subject, even if he had started it by his query.
gpt
Odd, isn't it, that you don't go to a girls' school?
human
That's what Muzzie thinks. She did want me to go, but I didn't want to, and Stepper--my stepfather, you know,--stood up for me. I never liked girls very much when I was little. I do now, of course. I've two or three girl friends who are _wonders_. I adore them. But I still like boys best. I suppose --he saw that her mind came back like a needle to the pole--
gpt
--she illustrated by putting the tips of her two forefingers together--
human
Yes. He must be an unusual fellow. But I'd like to hear you sing. Won't you come into the house and sing something for me?
gpt
All right, said Honor.
human
I love to sing, but I haven't studied very much yet, and I haven't any decent songs. Why doesn't somebody write some?--Songs _about_ something? Not just maudling along about 'heart' and 'part' and that kind of stuff! Come on! There's Stepper at the piano now. He'll play for me.