Then she told in strictest confidence that Georgia was very frail, would probably die young, certainly would not reach twenty-five; and I ought not to hesitate at what would make her life easier.  Still, if I had no regard for my sister’s comfort, she would be compelled to send us together afoot after the cows, and the exposure might be very bad for Georgia.  This was enough.  I would wear the hated clothes and my little sister should never learn from me the seriousness of her condition, lest it should hasten her death.

My suit of brown twill, red flannel shirt, boots, and sou’wester, with ear muffs attached, were ready for me before the heaviest winter storm.  The jacket and trousers were modelled for a boy of nine, instead of a girl not yet eight, but grandma assured me that being all wool, the rain would soon shrink them to my size, also that the boots, which were too wide in the heel and hurt my toes, would shape themselves to my feet and prevent the old frost bites from returning.

I was very unhappy while she helped me to dress, and pinned up my braids, and hid them under my storm hat; and I was absolutely wretched when she kissed me and said,

“It would be hard to find a prettier little boy than you are.”

After again admonishing me to let no one on the range know I was a girl, and to answer all questions civilly and ride on quickly after my string of cows, she promised that if I helped her thus through the short days of the rainy season, she would give back my “girl clothes” in the Spring, and never again ask me to wear others.

She led me to where Charlie was tied to a tree.  I stepped on to a block, from there to a stump, put my foot into the stirrup, and clumsily raised myself into the seat of an old dragoon saddle.  My eyes were too full of tears to see, but grandma put the reins in my hand and started me away.  Away where?  To drive up the cows?  Yes,—­and into wider fields of thought than she recked.

After I got beyond our road, I stopped Charlie, and made him turn his face toward mine, and told him all that had happened, and just how I felt.  The good old horse seemed to understand, for no friend could be more faithful than Charlie thenceforth proved to me.  He learned to separate our cows from the many strange ones on the plain; to move faster when it rained; to choose the crossings that were safe; and to avoid the branches that might scrape me from his back.  Grandma was pleased to learn that drivers on the range, when inquiring about strays, addressed me as “Bubbie.”  My humiliation, however, was so great that, though Georgia and I were room-mates, and had secret day meetings, I never went near her when others were by.

She was allowed to play oftener with neighbors’ children, and occasionally spent a week or more with Mrs. Bergwald, helping her to care for her little daughter.  While away, she learned fine needlework, had fewer crying spells, and was more contented than at home with grandma.