She swung her straw hat by the string.

Her brown-black hair was crowned by an unusually large bow of red ribbon.

She was not the least discomposed by the teasing of the other children, neither by Dorian's presence.

This was her party, and why should not she do and say what she pleased.
Carlia now led the way along the canal bank until she came to where a pole spanned the stream.

She stopped, looked at the somewhat insecure footbridge, then turning to her companions, said: "I can back you out." "How?
Doin' what ?" they asked.
"Crossing the canal on the pole." "Shucks, you can't back me out," declared one of the boys, at which he darted across the swaying pole, and with a jump, landed safely across.
Another boy went at it gingerly, and with the antics of a tight-rope walker, he managed to get to the other side.