The little man replied hurriedly, but with timid pride, “Certainly, sir; yes, certainly.”

“You be!” exclaimed the cowboy, as though overcome by his nearness to such dignity.  “Excuse me askin’, but if you don’t mind, now—­what be you professor of?”

The other answered with more courage, as though his soul found strength in the very word:  “Aesthetics.”

The cowboy’s jaw dropped, his mouth opened in gaping awe, and he looked from the professor to Phil and Kitty, as if silently appealing to them to verify this startling thing which he had heard.  “You don’t say!” he murmured at last in innocent admiration.  “Well, now, to think of a little feller like you a-bein’ all that!  But jest what be them there esteticks what you’re professor of—­if you don’t mind my askin’?”

The distinguished scholar answered promptly, in his best platform voice, “The science or doctrine of the nature of beauty and of judgments of tastes.”

At this, Stranger, with a snort of fear, stood straight up on his hind legs, and Professor Parkhill scuttled to a position of safety behind Phil.

“Excuse me, folks,” said Patches.  “I’m just naturally obliged to ’tend to this here thing what thinks he’s a hoss.  Come along, you ornery, pigeon-toed, knock-kneed, sway-backed, wooly-haired excuse, you.  You ain’t got no more manners ’n a measly coyote.”

The famous professor of aesthetics stood with Phil and Kitty watching Patches as that gentleman relieved the dancing bay of the saddle, and led him away through the corrals to the gate leading into the meadow pasture.

“I beg pardon,” murmured the visitor in his thin, little voice, “but what did I understand you to say is the fellow’s name?”

“Patches; Honorable Patches,” answered Phil.

“How strange! how extraordinarily strange!  I should be very interested to know something of his ancestry, and, if possible, to trace the origin of such a peculiar name.”

Phil replied with exaggerated concern.  “For heaven’s sake, sir, don’t say anything about the man’s name in his hearing.”

“He—­he is dangerous, you mean?”

“He is, if he thinks anyone is making light of his name.  You should ask some of the boys who have tried it.”

“But I—­I assure you, Mr. Acton, I had no thought of ridicule—­far from it.  Oh, very far from it.”

Kitty was obliged to turn away.  She arrived at the corral in time to meet Patches, who was returning.

“You ought to be ashamed,” she scolded.  But in spite of herself her eyes were laughing.

“Yes, ma’am,” said Patches meekly, hat in hand.

“How could you do such a thing?” she demanded.

“How could I help doing it?”

“How could you help it?”

“Yes.  You saw how he looked at me.  Really, Miss Reid, I couldn’t bear to disappoint him so cruelly.  Honestly, now, wasn’t I exactly what he expected me to be?  I think you should compliment me.  Didn’t I do it very well?”