Page:In the Valley (1922).djvu/37

 walked along slowly, watching them and laughing at their clever dodging and funny antics; and presently she saw a larger boy coming toward her along the road. He was bare-footed and was whistling and swinging a long, lithe, green switch. Just before he reached her, two smail children dashed out of a near-by gate and one of them rushed up to the boy and catching hold of his knees, began using him as a shield, in his wild effort to escape the "tag" of the other.

"Look out, kiddies!" said the larger boy, laughing and swinging aside to escape them. In doing so, he was careless of the long, green switch and it struck Marjorie a sharp blow on the cheek.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, starting back quickly, her eyes flashing and her face startled and angry; "Why can't you be more careful!"

The boy flushed. "Excuse me, Miss," he said, smiling awkwardly; but as Marjorie continued to look at him with indignation, holding her hand to the welt on her cheek, a sullen look flashed into his eyes and he turned on his heel and walked away.

The change in his face was so sudden that Marjorie caught her breath and turned to call him back; but just as she turned, two more laughing little boys came tearing out of a gate and plunged across his path, though without touching him. This time, instead of laughing with them, he raised the switch, threateningly.