Even Dorian here, who is usually afraid of girls, makes quite a chum of her." "Well, we're neighbors," justified the girl.
After dinner Carlia took Mildred home with her.

It was not far, just around the low ridge which hid the house from view.

There Mildred met Pa Duke, Ma Duke and Will Duke, Carlia's older brother.

Pa Duke was a hard-working farmer, Ma Duke was likewise a hard-working farmer's wife, and Will Duke should have been a hard-working farmer's boy, but he was somewhat a failure, especially regarding the hard work part.

Carlia, though so young, was already a hardworking farmer girl, with no chance of escape, as far as she could see, from the hard-working part.