always say that. Any one is selfish who doesn't
do what they want. You're more selfish than I
am. You're the most selfish boy I ever saw."

"I'm not!" snapped Colin. "I'm not as selfish
as your fine Dickon is! He keeps you playing
in the dirt when he knows I am all by myself.
He's selfish, if you like!"

Mary's eyes flashed fire.

"He's nicer than any other boy that ever
lived!" she said. "He's -- he's like an angel!"
It might sound rather silly to say that but she did
not care.

"A nice angel!" Colin sneered ferociously.
"He's a common cottage boy off the moor!"

"He's better than a common Rajah!" retorted
Mary. "He's a thousand times better!"

Because she was the stronger of the two she was
beginning to get the better of him. The truth
was that he had never had a fight with any one
like himself in his life and, upon the whole, it
was rather good for him, though neither he nor
Mary knew anything about that. He turned his
head on his pillow and shut his eyes and a big tear
was squeezed out and ran down his cheek. He
was beginning to feel pathetic and sorry for
himself -- not for any one else.

"I'm not as selfish as you, because I'm always
ill, and I'm sure there is a lump coming on my

[[212]]

p211 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p212w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p213

v?