The Merryweathers

and tents; hammocks swung between the trees, fishing-rods ranged along the sides of the building. This was the Camp. As the wagons drove up, Mrs. Merryweather hurried from the house, and Mr

,' SAID BELL; '

No? that is good! Well, but you must be hungry, I am sure. There ar

cannot be hungry at three o'clock. Dined at Wayport, Ferrer

Where is Bell, Mammy? Oh, there she is! Bell, he

eneral aspect of a snow apple, greeted the guests with

ou want to come out to your tent? Here, I'll take your bag, Margaret

king eagerly. A row of flagstones led past the boat-house, and on under solem

this big one; we are three, you see. Yours

w perfect everything is! Oh, what ducky beds! the red blankets are just li

ance showed her how compactly and conveniently everything was arranged. The narrow cots, with their scarlet blankets and blue check pillows, stood on either side; between them was a table, with blotter of birch bark, and an inkstand made by hollowing out a quaintly shaped piece

be happy!" said Margaret,

overed, or the squirrels will carry them off. I hope you will not mind a squirrel coming in now and then? th

ame squirrels. Ours at home will come an

t now and then, just to show me how they are growing. There, now, we go on chattering, when I know you ought to rest awhile, and unpack and stow away. It takes quite a b

slip that led to the floating wharf, and sat

" said Gertr

said Bel

hem? Isn't she lovely?

ere it is; not in the features, certainly, nor in the coloring. I think it is in the brow and eyes; a kind of noble look; I don't know how else to put it. You wouldn't say an

anyhow, it is a joy to have them here, and dear Colonel Ferrers, to

e or four inches above the six-foot Merryweathers, he still kept his boyish slenderness and spring, though the awkward angles were somehow softened away. He no longer stooped and shambled, but held his

asked Gerald; "o

just beginning to plan the eveni

they had passed one and twenty-stretched them

ald. "Prose will not express

e brain is

fire is g

ain b

the

he moonlight'

guson. Go on; t

said Phil. "We

gree with

s fire is

u wou

ing I'

'll go a s

l take them a day or two to get used to camp ways, Margaret at least; and we want t

he song upraise, Tintinnabula! no es

Bell, laughing. "I refuse to be fe

orbear your

this hasty

k, wit

wise an

moonlight

urn, T

u know I cannot, Bell. Besides

re telling, and you know what happens to

l, yodel

r, stutter

hen y

ll no

u're only

uld? It's really a dreadful thing to be the only prose member of a large

said Jack. "Never cou

c!" said Gertrude. "That is t

s one of the many delightful things

t it up for

ows and pleas

age! Compliment, unless paid to mysel

eplied the oth

cial stunts in the

It's our turn to get supper, isn't it? and I have an idea-just

it, guard i

idea-thy

Ger

while, cons

the last

seized him by the shoulders, an

e bard, the

thy soul

truth, I o

hy tearfu

!" said Bell. "You

rs I would have dried. Tears, idle tears, I know not whence

d Jack, dipping Gerald's

!" proclaimed Phil. "Law

fire!" said Bell, rising. "Leave him t

to me conscienc

le me with s

sy! hear it

had followed the others to the house, leaving the two Reds, as their mother c

. "Nice little red-haired, cream-colored, comfortable sister! If I were as good-looking

, Je

you think

, she is a

ed Gerald. "Th