"Oh, blazes; it's har-r-d!" he exclaimed, pronouncing the adjective in a peculiar manner.

 

     Winterbourne had immediately perceived that he might have the honor of claiming him as a fellow countryman. "Take care you don't hurt your teeth," he said, paternally.

 

     "I haven't got any teeth to hurt. They have all come out. I have only got seven teeth. My mother counted them last night, and one came out right afterward. She said she'd slap me if any more came out. I can't help it. It's this old Europe. It's the climate that makes them come out. In America they didn't come out. It's these hotels."

 

     Winterbourne was much amused. "If you eat three lumps of sugar, your mother will certainly slap you," he said.

 

     "She's got to give me some candy, then," rejoined his young interlocutor. "I can't get any candy here--any American candy. American candy's the best candy."

 

     "And are American little boys the best little boys?" asked Winterbourne.

 

     "I don't know. I'm an American boy," said the child.

 

     "I see you are one of the best!" laughed Winterbourne.

 

     "Are you an American man?" pursued this vivacious infant. And then, on Winterbourne's affirmative reply--"American men are the best," he declared.

 

     His companion thanked him for the compliment, and the child, who had now got astride of his alpenstock, stood looking about him, while he attacked a second lump of sugar. Winterbourne wondered if he himself had been like this in his infancy, for he had been brought to Europe at about this age.

 

     "Here comes my sister!" cried the child in a moment. "She's an American girl."

 

     Winterbourne looked along the path and saw a beautiful young lady advancing. "American girls are the best girls," he said cheerfully to his young companion.

 

     "My sister ain't the best!" the child declared. "She's always blowing at me."

 

     "I imagine that is your fault, not hers," said Winterbourne. The young lady meanwhile had drawn near.