“Well, I’ve had so many cold days in my time I guess I can stand a little heat.”

Rex was not the only one of the Pells who was astonished by the advent of the Darleys.  Their coming was a complete surprise to the entire family.  And a still greater cause of astonishment was the prolongation of their stay.

They rented two of the best rooms in the house, had awnings put up at the windows and wicker furniture sent on from Denver.  Mr. Darley took frequent trips to neighboring towns.  It was understood by the gossips at Batemans that he was a large Eastern capitalist, looking about for profitable mining investments.

July, August and half of September passed, and still the Darleys remained.  Miles was supremely content, for he was with Rex, for whom his admiration appeared to increase with each day’s added intimacy.  Miles had brought his books, and they studied together some.  And in spite of the forlornness of the place, the five young people managed to have a pretty good time.

One afternoon Roy and Rex were washing the omnibus out at the stable.  The driver, hearing of a big strike that had been made at a mine some sixty miles away, threw up his position at once and started off to try to get rich at a hand stroke.  And the boys were forced to throw themselves into the breach until another man could be obtained in his place.

This is the sort of thing they had trained themselves to expect since coming to Batemans.

“Where’s Miles?” asked Roy, as he brought a fresh pail of water and set it down beside his brother.

“He was coming out but his father called him into his room.”

“We’ll miss them when they go, won’t we, Reggie?  It has been jolly good fun to have Miles with us all summer.  You ought to feel quite proud to think you are a strong enough magnet to keep him here.”

“I can’t understand it at all, why they should have stayed,” returned Rex.

He did not speak very cheerfully.  The Darleys were to leave the very next week.  It was impossible but that Rex should realize vividly to what they were returning.  He did not tell Roy so, but he wished they had not come.

There was only one wheel of the omnibus to finish when Miles came hurrying toward them.  There was an expression on his face which neither of the twins could comprehend.  It was a blending of fear, joy and stupefaction.

“Here, let me help,” he said, as he came up.  “I want you fellows to hurry and get through.  I’ve something to tell you.”

But they had so nearly finished that there was nothing left for him to undertake.

“What have you got to tell us?” asked Rex, throwing his sponge back into the bucket.

“I wish I knew how you fellows would take it,” returned Miles, a flush creeping over his face.

“Try us and find out,” rejoined Roy with a smile.

“I’m simply delighted myself,” went on the other.  “I wonder how I can keep my two feet on the ground.  It seems too good to be true.”