Dick did not change his socks just then; he went first into the kitchen and busied himself there, and he continued to smile to himself.

Later he went out and met Ford, who was riding moodily up from the river field.
"Say, I'm going to be an interfering kind of a cuss, and put you next to something," he began, with just the right degree of hesitation in his manner.

"It ain't any of my business, but--" He stopped and lighted a cigarette.

"If you'll come up to the bunk-house, I'll show you something funny!" Ford dismounted in silence, led his horse into the stable, and without waiting to unsaddle, followed Dick.
"We've got to hurry, before Mose gets back from hunting eggs," Dick remarked, by way of explaining the long strides he took.

"And of course I'm taking it for granted, Ford, that you won't say anything.