Andy’s head was held at its usual cocky angle, and he assumed a swagger as he retraced his steps, but his short legs wobbled and he sank dizzily to a stump.
“I brought ’is blinkin’ meat-’ouse down, Connie,” he gasped.
“Oh, Andy, you’re a darling!” she cried, throwing her arms impulsively around the little man’s neck, and touching her lips to his cheek.
Andy’s florid face took on a deeper magenta, and he blinked hard to hide certain signs of emotion. He afterwards admitted to Donald that he was no “sweet sixteen,” and that it was the first time that he had ever been kissed in his “bloomin’” life.
Connie wet her handkerchief in the cold water of the creek and bathed his face with tender care.
She showed Donald and Gillis the nest with the motherless birds, doomed to die a premature death by this act of wanton cruelty, and pointed to the tiny bird on the ground, for whose untimely end Andy had taken a well deserved and summary vengeance. Connie choked as the lovely male bird flew to a stalk of goldenrod near its dead mate and sent out its throaty warble.
“Dear, dear, dearie,” sang the goldfinch in a plaintive, questioning note.
Andy presented a pitiful figure with an eye closed, his lips swollen, and his face bruised, but the indomitable spirit of him shone from his one bright orb.
“You darned little buzz-saw!” said Gillis tenderly.
Donald slapped his little friend on the back, his eyes shining with admiration.
Renwick announced that Robert Rennie’s daughter and a party of girl friends were to visit Summit Lake the following week, and carpenters were set to work erecting cottages for their accommodation.
A few days before her arrival Donald was both surprised and pleased to receive a cordial letter from her in which she said that she was looking forward with pleasure to the coming holiday, and that she would deeply appreciate anything he might do for the entertainment of her friends.
As always, her father spared no expense in providing for the comfort and pleasure of his daughter. That week a car containing a motor-boat, canoes and six saddle-horses was run in on a side-track at the mill.
Connie learned of the coming event through Donald as she was watching with keen interest the unloading of the spirited animals.