hopeshewillgetherefordinnerto-night；thenwecandecideonourfinery，andhavearoughrehearsal。\'
\'Well，girls!\'shoutedJack，fromthetheatre，\'comeandhaveoneconsultation，andthenwe\'llletyouoff。Philwantstochangethelocationaltogether。\'
\'Oh，nonsense!\'criedMadge，asthethreegirlsrantowardsthesceneofaction。\'It\'stheonlysuitableplacewithinamileofthecamp。\'
\'Ithinkitwillbesimplyperfect，whenyouhavedonealittlemorecutting，\'saidBell。\'Justseeouradvantages:First，wehavethatrisingknolloppositethestage，whichisexactlythethingforaudienceseats；thenwehaveasemicircularbackgroundoftreesandaflatplaceforthestage，whichisperfectlyinvaluable；lastofall，justgazeuponthatmadrono-treeinthecentre，andtheoakontheleft；why，theyareworthathousanddollarsforscenery。\'
\'Especiallyinthefirstscene——ducalinterior，orwhateveritis，\'
saidPhil，disconsolately。
\'Jingo!thatisalittleembarrassing，\'groanedJack。
\'Notatall，\'saidPolly，briskly。\'Thereisplentyofroomtosettheinteriorinfrontofthosetrees。Itcanbeallfixedbeforehand，andjustwhiskedawayforgoodattheendofthefirstact。\'
\'That\'strue，\'saidGeoff，thoughtfully。\'Butwecan\'thaveanyAdam\'scottage。Wetalkeditoverlastnight，anddecidedit\"couldn\'tbedid。\"\'
\'Didyouindeed!\'exclaimedBell，sarcastically。\'Thenallowmetoremarkthatyouthreeboysrepresentaveryobtusetriangle。\'
\'Thanks，mostacidRosalind!\'murmuredGeoff，meekly。\'Couldyoudeign，asspokesmanoftheveryacutetriangle，tosuggestsomething?\'
\'Certainly。Thereistherearofthebrushkitcheninplainsight，toconveytheideaofarustichut。Tobesure，it\'sagooddistancetotheleft，butlettheaudiencescrewroundintheirseatswhentheyhearthevoices，andAdam，Oliver，andOrlandocanwalkoutcarelessly，andgothroughtheirscenerightthere。\'
\'Admirable!\'quothGeoff。\'Webowtoyoursuperiorjudgment。\'
\'WhataninspirationthatwastobringthoseChineselanternsfortheFourthofJuly；theyhavejustsavedusfromutterruin，\'saidMargery，whowasquietlymakingleaf-trimming。
\'Yes，theeffectisgoingtobeperfectlygorgeous!\'exclaimedPolly，claspingherhandsinanticipation。\'Howmanyhavewe?Ten?Oh，that\'ssplendid；andhowmanycandles?\'
\'Asmanyaswecaretouse，\'Philanswered，fromthetopoftheladderwherehewasatwork。\'Andlookatmyarrangementforholdingthemtothesetrees。Aren\'ttheyimmense?\'
\'Bytheway，\'saidBell，\'don\'tforgetthemossybanksunderthosetrees，forstageseats；andmakemesomekindofathingontheleftside，toswoononwhenIsniffOrlando\'sgoryhandkerchief。\'
\'Acoupleofrocks，\'suggestedJack。
\'Notexactly，\'repliedthecriticalRosalind，withgreatdignity。\'I
amblackandbluealreadyfrompractisingmyfaint，andIexpecttoshriekwithpainwhenIfallto-morrownight。\'
\'St。Jacob\'sOilrelievesstiffenedjoints，smoothsthewrinklesfromthebrowofcare，sootheslaceratedfeelings，and\'ushesthe\'owlofhinfancy，\'remarkedGeoffreyserenely，ashepreparedtobuildtherequiredmossybanks。
\'Mydearcousin(therearetimeswhenIamgladitisonlysecondcousin)，haveyouasecretcontracttoadvertiseavulgarpatentmedicine?orwhythiseloquence?\'laughedBell。
\'And，Jack，\'suggestedPolly，\'youdon\'tseemtobedoinganything；
fixastumpformetositonwhileOrlandoandRosalindaremakinglove。\'
\'Allright，countess。I\'dliketoseeyoustumpedonceinmylife。
Shallwehavethecanvasesbroughtforstagecarpets?\'
\'Wesayno，\'criedRosalind，firmly。\'Weshallbeathousandtimesmoreawkwardstumblingoverstiffbillowsofcarpet。Let\'ssweepthegroundascleanandsmoothaspossible，andletitgoforallthescenes。\'
\'Yes，weshallthenbewellGROUNDEDinourparts，\'remarkedPhil，hidinghisheadbehindabunchofcandles。
\'Takecare，youngman，\'laughedPolly，\'oryoumaybe\"runtoearth\"
instead。\'
\'Orberequestedbytheaudiencetogetupanddust，\'criedtheirrepressibleJack，whosewitwasveryapttobeofaslangycharacter。\'Nowletussettletheinterior，orIshallgomad。\'
\'BellandIhaveitallsettled，\'saidGeoffrey，promptly。\'Thebackgroundistobemadeofthreesheetshungoveraline，andthetwosideswillbeformedofcanvascarpets；thewallswillhaveJapanesefans，parasols，and——\'
\'Jupiter!\'exclaimedJack，who，asknightofthebrush，feltcompelledtobeartistic。\'Imagineaducalpalace，intheyearsomanyhundredandsomething，decoratedwithJapanesebric-a-brac!I
blushforyou。\'
\'Now，Jack，wemightaswelldropthewholeplayasbegintothinkofthe\'nakkeronisms，\'orwhateverthewordis。Ihavegottowearanoldwhitewrappertothewrestling-match，butIdon\'tcomplain，\'saidPolly。
JusthereBellranbackfromthekitchen，exclaiming:
\'IhavesecuredPanchoforCharlestheWrestler。Oh，hewasfearfullyobstinate!butwhenItoldhimhewouldonlybeonthestagetwominutes，andwouldnothavetospeakaword，butjustletGeoffthrowhim，heconsented。Isn\'tthatgood?Didyoudecideaboutthedecorations?\'
\'Itwillhavetobejustaswesuggested，\'answeredMargery。\'Fans，parasols，flowers，andleaves，withthemadrono-woodfurniturescatteredabout，sheep-skins，etc。\'
\'Afewvenisonrugs，Ipresumeyoumean，\'saidGeoffrey，slyly。
\'Say，Polly，omitthecoldcreamforonce，willyou?Youdon\'twanttooutshineeverybody。\'
\'Thankyou，\'shereplied。\'Iwillendeavourtotakecareofmyowncomplexion，ifyouwillallowme。Asforyours，youlookmorelikeOthellothanOrlando。\'
\'Come，come，girls，\'saidindustriousMargery，\'letusgotothetentandsew。Itisnothingbutnonsensehere，andwearenotaccomplishinganything。\'
Sotheywiselylefttheboystothemselvesfortheentireday，andtransformedtheirtentintoamammothdressmakingestablishment，withcleverAuntTruthaschiefdesigner。
Theinterveninghourshadslippedquicklyaway，andnowthefatalmomenthadarrived，andeverythingwasreadyfortheplay。
Thewould-beactresseswereatrifleexcitedwhentheProfessorandhiseightstudentswerebroughtupandintroducedbyJackandScottBurton；and，asifthatwerenotenough，whoshoulddriveupatthelastmomentbutthefamilyfromtheneighbouringmilkranch，andbegtobeallowedthepleasureofwitnessingtheperformance。Mr。
SandfordwasthegentlemanwhohadsoldDr。Winshiphisland，andsotheywerecordiallyinvitedtoremain。
Allthecushionsandshawlsbelongingtothecampwerearrangedcarefullyontheknoll，foraudienceseats；itwasabrilliantmoonlightnight，andthestageassumedaveryfestiveappearancewithitsfourpoundsofcandlesandtwelveChineselanterns。
Meanwhiletheactorsweredressingintheirrespectivetents。Bell\'sfirstdresswasalongpinkmuslinwrapperofMrs。Burton\'s，whichhadbeenbeltedinandartisticallypastedoverwithbouquetsfromthecretonnetrunkcovers，inimitationoffloweredsatin；underthissheworeashortbluelawnskirtofherown，catchingupthepinkmuslinontheleftsidewithabouquetofwildroses，andproducingwhatshecalleda\'positivelyNeilsoneffect。\'
Herbrighthairwastossedupintoafluffyknotonthetopofherhead；andwithaflatcoronetofwildrosesandanothergreatbunchatherbelt，onemighthavegonefarandnothavefoundaprettierRosalind。
\'Ideclare，youarejusttoolovely——isn\'tshe，Laura?\'askedMargery。
\'Yes，shelooksquitewell，\'answeredLaura，abstractedly，beingmuchoccupiedinmakingherselfabsurdlybeautifulasAudrey。\'Ofcoursethedressfitshorridly，butperhapsitwon\'tshowinthedimlight。\'
\'Oh，isitverybad?\'sighedBell，plaintively；\'Ican\'tseeitinthisglass。Well，thenextonefitsbetter，andIhavetowearthatthelongest。ShallIdoyourhair，Laura?\'
\'No——thanks；Margeryhassuchacapitalknackathair-dressing，andshedoesn\'tcomeonyet。\'
DuringthisconversationPollywasstrugglingwithAuntTruth\'strainedwhitewrapper。Itwasratherdifficulttomakeitlooklikeacourtdress；butshelookedasfreshandradiantasaroseinit，forthecandle-lightobliteratedeveryfreckle，andonecouldseenothingbutapairofdancingeyes，thepinkestofcheeks，andaheadrunningoverwithcurlsofruddygold。
\'Now，Bell，criticiseme!\'shecried，takingapositioninthemiddleofthetent，andturningroundlikeawaxfigure。\'Ihavetornoutmyhairbytherootstogiveita\"doneup\"look，andhaveI
succeeded?andshallIwearanyflowerswiththislacesurplice?andwhatonearthshallIdowithmyhands?they\'resoblacktheywillcastagloomoverthestage。PerhapsIcanwrapmyhandkerchiefcarelesslyroundone，andI\'llkeeptheotherroundyourwaist，considerable，tuckedunderyourWatteaupleat。WillIdo?\'
\'Do?Ishouldthinkso!\'andBelleyedherwithmanifestapproval。
\'Yourhairisverynice，andyournecklookslovelywiththatlacehandkerchief。Asforflowers，whydon\'tyouwearagreatmassofyellowandwhitedaisies?You\'llbeasgorgeousas——\'
\'AsasunsetbyTurner，\'saidLaura，withaglanceatPolly\'sauburnlocks。\'Seemstomethisisamutualadmirationsociety，isn\'tit?\'
andshesanklanguidlyintoachairtohaveherhairdressed。
\'Yes，itis，\'criedPolly，boldly；\'andit\'sgoingto\"continner。\"
Meg，you\'readarlinginthatblueprintandprettyhat。I\'llfillmyfern-basketwithflowers，andyoucantakeit，astohavesomethinginyourhandtoplaywith。YoulooknicerthananyPhoebeIeversaw，that\'safact。Andnow，hurrah!we\'reallready，andthere\'stheboys\'bell，soletusassembleoutinthekitchen。Ohdear!IbelieveI\'mfrightened，inspiteofeverypromisetothecontrary。\'
Whentheyoungpeoplesaweachotherforthefirsttimeintheirstagecostumestherewasagooddealofmerrimentandsomehonestadmiration。Geofflookedveryoddwithouthiseyeglassesandwiththeyellowwigthatwastheonepropertybelongingtothisstardramaticorganisation。
Thegirlshadnotsucceededinproducingagreateffectwiththemasculinecostumes，becauseofinsufficientmaterial。Buttheboyshaddeterminednottoweartheirordinaryclothes，nomatterwhathappened；soJackhaddonnedoneofHopYet\'sblueblousesforhisSylviusdress，andhadreadyaplaidshawltothrowgracefullyoveroneshoulderwheneverhechangedtotheBanishedDuke。
HisSylviusattirewasopentocriticism，butnoonecouldfailtoadmirehisappearanceastheDuke，onaccountofamagnificentducalhead-gear，fromwhichsoaredabunchoftallpeacockfeathers。
\'Oh，Jack，whatahead-dressforaDuke!\'laughedMargery；\'nowondertheybanishedyou。Didyouoffendthecourthatter?\'
Philsaidthatatalleventsnobodycouldmistakehimforanythingbutafool，inhis\'Touchstone\'costume，andsohewasjest-ergoingtobecontented。
ScottBurtonwasarrangingPancho\'stoiletteforthewrestling-match，andmeanwhiletryingtoraisehisdroopingspirits；andRosalindwasvainlyendeavouringtomakeAdam\'sbeardofgreymossstayon。
Whiletheseanticsweregoingonbehindthescenes，theaudiencewasseatedontheknoll，makingmerryoverthewrittenprogrammes，whichhadbeenasurpriseofGeoff\'s，andreadasfollows:-
THEPRINCESS\'THEATRE。
July10th，188。
APPEARANCETHEGREATESTDRAMATICCOMPANYONEARTH(FACT)。
THECOOLESTTHEATREINTHEWORLD。
ARoyalGalaxyandBoyaxyofArtistsintheplayofASYOULIKEIT，ByWilliamShakespeare，orLordBacon。
CAST。
\'Alas!unmindfuloftheirdoom，thelittlevictimsplay；
Nosensehavetheyofillstocome，orcaresbeyondto-day。\'
ROSALINDTheLadyBell-Pepper。
(Hergreatestcreation。)
CELIATheCountessPaulina。
PHOEBETheDuchessofSweetMarjoram。
AUDREYAtalentedIncognitaoftheCourt。
ORLANDOHenneryIrvingSalviniStrong。
(LatefromtheBlankTheatre，OilCity。)
ADAMDr。PaulWinship。
(Bykindpermissionofhismanager，Mrs。T。W。)
BANISHEDDUKE}
SYLVIUS}LordJohnHoward}LightningTOUCHSTONE}}ChangeArtists。
JACQUE}DukeofNoble}
(N。B——TheDukeofNoblehasplayedthe\'fool\'fivemilliontimes。)
OLIVERMr。ScottBurton。
(Speciallyengaged。)
CHARLESTHEWRESTLERPanchoMuldoonSullivan。
(Hisfirstappearance。)
TheCombOrchestrawillplaytheMusicoftheFuture。
TheUsherwillpasspop-cornbetweentheActs。Bedsmaybeorderedat10。30。
ThescenebetweenAdamandOrlandowentoffwithgoodeffect；andwhenCeliaandRosalindcamethroughthetreesinanaffectionateattitude，andCelia\'sblithevoicebrokethestillnesswith，\'Ipraythee，Rosalind，sweetmycoz，bemerry，\'therewasaheartyburstofapplausewhichalmostfrightenedthemintosilence。
Attheendofthefirstacteverybodywasdelighted；thestage-
manager，carpenter，scene-shifter，costumier，andallthestarswerecalledsuccessivelybeforethecurtain。
HopYetdeclareditwas\'allthesamegoodasChinatheatre\'；andeveryoneagreedtothatcriticismwithoutadissentingvoice。
Tobesure，therewasanutterabsenceofstage-management，andallthe\'traditions\'wereremarkablefortheirabsence；butIfancythatthespiritsofSiddonsandKemble，MacreadyandGarrick，lookeddownwithkindapprovalupontheseearnestyoungactorsastheyrecitedthematchlessoldwords，movingtoandfrointhequaintsettingoftreesandmoonlight，withanorchestraofcooingdovesandmurmuringzephyrs。
Theforestsceneswereintendedtobethefeaturesoftheevening，andinthesetheyoungpeoplefairlysurpassedthemselves。AnyonewhohadseenNeilsoninherdoubletandhoseofsilver-grey，Modjeskainhershadesofblue，andAdaCavendishinherlovelysuitofgreen，mighthavethoughtBell\'spatched-updressasorrymixture；yetthesethreebrilliantstarsinthetheatricalfirmamentmighthaveenviedthislittleRosalindthedewyyouthandfreshnessthatsotriumphedoveralldeficienciesofcostume。
Margery\'scamping-dressofgrey，shortenedtotheknee，servedforitsbasis。Roundtheskirtandbeltandsleeveswerebroadbandsoflaurel-leaftrimming。SheworeapairofMargery\'slonggreystockingsandLaura\'sdaintybronzeNewportties。AsoftgreychuddashawlofAuntTruth\'swasfoldedintoamantletoswingfromtheshoulder，itsfringesbeingcaughtupoutofsight，andalaurel-leaftrimmingadded。Onherbrightwavyhairwasperchedacunningflatcapofleaves，and，assheenteredwithPolly，leaningonhermanzanitastaff，andsighing，\'OhJupiter，howwearyaremyspirits!\'
onecouldnotwishalovelierstagepicture。
Andsotheplaywenton，withvaryingfortunes。Margerywasfrightenedtodeath，andpersistedintakingTouchstone\'sspeechesrightoutofhismouth，muchtohisdiscomfiture。Adam\'sbeardrefusedtostayon；sodidthemoustacheoftheBanishedDuke，andtheclothesofSylvius。Butnothingcoulddampthedramaticfireoftheplayers，nordestroytheenthusiasmofthesympatheticaudience。
Dickysatinthedress-circle，wrappedinblankets，andlaughedhimselfnearlyintoconvulsionsoverTouchstone\'sjokes，andthestagebusinessoftheBanishedDuke；foritisunnecessarytostatethatJackwasnotstrictlyShakespeareaninhistreatmentofthepart。
AsforPolly，sheenjoyedbeingCeliawithallhermight，anddeclaredherintentionofgoingimmediatelyonthe\'regular\'stage；
butJacksomewhatdestroyedherhopesbyaffirmingthathernoseandhairwouldn\'tbejustthethingonthemetropolitanboards，althoughtheymightpassmusterinabackwoodstheatre。
\'Hello!What\'sthis?\'exclaimedPhilip，onemorning。\'Avisitor?
Yes——no!Why，it\'sSenorDonManuelFelipeHilarioNoriegacomingupthecanyon!He\'sgotaloadedteam，too!IwonderifUncleDocisexpectinganything。\'
Theswarthygentlemanwiththelongnameemergedfromonecloudofdustanddisappearedinanother，untilhenearedthegatewherePhilipandPollywerestanding。
Philipopenedthegate，andreceivedabowofthankswhichwouldhavemadeManuel\'sreputationataSpanishcourt。
\'Goinguptocamp?\'
\'Si，senor。\'
\'Thosethingsforus?\'
\'Si，senor。\'
\'Whatarethey?\'
\'Si，senor。\'
\'Exactly!Well，arethereanyletters?\'
\'Si，senor。\'Whereuponhedrewonefromhisgorgeously-decoratedleatherbelt。
Philipreachedforit，andPollyleanedoverhisshoulder，devouredwithcuriosity。
\'It\'sforAuntTruth，\'shesaid；\'and——yes，IamsureitisMrs。
Howard\'swriting；andifitis——\'
Hereupon，asManuelspokenoEnglish，andneitherPhilipnorPollycouldmakeinquiriesinSpanish，Pollydartedtothecartinherusualmeteoricstyle，putonefootonthehubofawheelandclimbedtothetoplikeasquirrel，snatchedoffacornerofthecanvascover，andcriedtriumphantly，\'Iknewit!Elsieiscoming!Here\'satent，andsomemattressesandpillows。Hurry!Helpmedown，quick!Oh，slow-coach!KeepoutofthewayandI\'lljump!Givemetheletter。Icanrunfasterthanyoucan。\'AndbeforethevestigeofanideahadpenetratedPhilip\'shead，nothingcouldbeseenofPollybutapairoftwinklingheelsandthegleamofacurlyheadthatcaughteveryrayofthesunandturneditintoruddiergold。
Itwasadusty，rockypath，andup-hillatthat；butPolly，whowasnothingifnotardent，neverslackenedherpace，butdashedalonguntilshecameinsightofthecamp，wheresheexpendedherlastbreathinoneshrillshriekforAuntTruth。
Itwasrespondedtopromptly。Indeed，itwasthesortofshriekthatalwayscommandsinstantaneousattention；andAuntTruthcameoutofhertentpreparedtoreceivetragicnews。Bellfollowed；andtheentirefamilywouldhavedonethesamehadtheybeenincamp。
PollythrusttheletterintoMrs。Winship\'shand，andsankdownexhausted，exclaiming，breathlessly，\'There\'samattress——andatent——
comingupthecanyon。It\'sElsie\'s，Iknow。Philipisdownatthegate——withthecart——butIcameahead。Phew!butit\'swarm!\'
\'What!\'criedBell，joyfully。\'Elsieatthegate!Itcan\'tbetrue!\'Andshedartedlikeanarrowthroughthetrees。
\'Comeback!comeback!\'screamedPolly。
\'Elsieisnotatthegate。DonS。D。M。F。H。N。istherewithateamloadeddownwiththings。Isn\'titfromMrs。Howard，AuntTruth?\'
\'Yes，itis。WrittenthismorningfromTacitasRancho。Why，howisthis?Letmesee!\'
TACITASRANCHO，Mondaymorning。
DearTruth，——Youwillbesurprisedtoreceivealetterfromme，writtenfromTacitas。Buthereweare，ElsieandI；and，whatisbetter，weareonourwaytoyou。
(\'Iknewit!\'exclaimedthegirls。)
Elsiehasbeengrowingsteadilybetterforthreeweeks。Thefeverseemstohavedisappearedentirely，andthetroublesomecoughissomuchlessenedthatshesleepsallnightwithoutwaking。Thedoctorsaysthatthecamp-lifewillbetheverybestthingforhernow，andwillprobablycompleteherrecovery。
(\'Oh，joy，joy!\'criedthegirls。)
Ineednotsayhowgladlywefollowedthisspecialprescriptionofourkinddoctor\'s，noraddthatwestartedatonce。
(\'Oh，AuntTruth，thereisnobodywithinamileofthecamp；can\'tI，PLEASEcan\'tIturnonelittlehand-spring，justonelittlelady-likeone?\'pleadedPolly，dancingononefootandchewinghersun-bonnetstring。
\'No，dear，youcan\'t!Keepquietandletmeread。\')
Elsiewouldnotletmetellyouourplansanysooner，lesttheoldstoryofasuddenillturnwouldkeepusathome；andIthinkverylikelythatshelongedtogivethedearboysandgirlsasurprise。
WearrivedattheBurtons\'yesterday。Elsieborethejourneyexceedinglywell，butIwouldnottakeanyrisks，andsoweshallnotdriveoveruntildayafterto-morrowmorning。
(\'Youneedn\'thavehurriedquitesofast，Pollydear。\')
Iventuretosendthetentanditsbelongingsaheadto-day，sothatJackmaygeteverythingtorightsbeforewearrive。
Themattressisjustthesizethegirlsordered；andofcourseI\'vetoldElsienothingabouttheproposedfurnishingofhertent。
IambringingmylittleChinaboywithme，forIhappentothinkthat，withtheBurtons，weshallbefourteenattable。Ginisnotquiteasuccessasacook，buthecanatleastwashdishes，waitattable，andhelpHopYetinvariousways；whileIshallbeonlytoogladtoshareallyourhousekeepingcares，ifyouhavenotescapedthemeveninthewilderness。
Ishallbesogladtoseeyouagain；andoh，Truth，Iamsohappy，sohappy，that，pleaseGod，Icankeepmychildafterall!Thewearyburdenofdreadisliftedoffmyheart，andIfeelyoungagain。Justthinkofit!MyElsiewillbewellandstrongoncemore!Itseemstoogoodtobetrue。
Alwaysyourattachedfriend，JANETHOWARD。
Mrs。Winship\'svoicequiveredasshereadthelastfewwords，andPollyandBellthrewthemselvesintoeachother\'sarmsandcriedforsheergladness。
\'Come，come，dears!Isupposeyouwillmakegrandpreparations，andthereisnotimetolose。OneofyoumustfindsomebodytohelpPhilipunloadtheteam。Papaandtheboyshavegonefishing，andLauraandMargerywentwiththem，Ithink。\'AndMrs。Winshipbustledabout，literallyonhospitablethoughtsin-tent。
Pollytiedonhersun-bonnetwithdetermination，turneduphersleevesasifwashingwerethethingtobedone，andplacedherarmsakimbo。
\'Firstandforemost，\'saidshe，hereyessparklingwithexcitement，\'firstandforemost，Iamgoingtoblowthehorn。\'
\'Certainlynot，\'saidAuntTruth。\'Areyoucrazy，Polly?Itisscarcelyteno\'clock，andeverybodywouldthinkitwasdinnertime，andcomehomeatonce。\'
\'No，they\'dthinksomethinghadhappenedtoDicky，\'saidBell，\'andthatwouldbringtheminstillsooner。\'
\'Ofcourse!Iforgot。Butcan\'tIblowitearlierthanusual?
Can\'tIblowitathalf-pasteleveninsteadoftwelve?Wecan\'tdoathingwithouttheboys，andtheymaynotcomehomeuntilmidnightunlesswedosomethingdesperate。Oh，delight!There\'sDonS。D。M。
F。H。N。，andPhilhasfoundPanchotohelpunload。\'
\'Isn\'titluckythatwedecidedontheplaceforElsie\'stent，andsaveditincasesheshouldevercome?\'saidBell。\'NowPhilipandPanchocansetitupwhenevertheychoose。Andisn\'titfortunatethatwethreestayedathometo-day，andrefusedtofish?nowwecanplaneverything，andthenallworktogetherwhentheycomeback。\'
MeanwhilePollywastuggingatanimmensebundle，literallytoothandnail，asshealternatedtremblingclutchesofthefingerswithfranticbitesattheoffendingknot。
Likemanyofherperformances，thephysicalstrengthexpendedwasoutofallproportiontotheresultproduced，andonestrokeofPhilip\'sknifeaccomplishedmorethanallherill-directedeffort。Atlengththebundleofawningclothstoodrevealed。\'Oh，isn\'titbeautiful?\'
shecried，\'itwillbetheveryprettiesttentincamp；can\'tIblowthehorn?\'
\'Look，mamma，\'exclaimedBell，\'itisgreenandgrey，inthoseprettybrokenstripes，andtheedgeiscutinlovelyscollopsandboundwithgreenbraid。Won\'titlookprettyamongthetrees?\'
AuntTruthcameouttojointheadmiringgroup。
\'O-o-o-h!\'screamedPolly。\'Therecomesapieceofthefloor。
They\'vesentitallmade，inthreepieces。Whatfun!We\'llhaveitallupandreadytosleepinbeforeweblowthehorn!\'
\'Andhere\'sarollofstrawmatting，\'saidPhil，depositingahugebundleonthegroundnearthegirls。\'I\'llcuttheropetosaveyourteeth!\'
\'Greenandwhiteplaid!\'exclaimedBell。\'Well!Mrs。Howarddidhaveherwitsabouther!\'
\'Oh，doletmeblowthehorn!\'teasedtheirrepressiblePolly。
\'Herearealooking-glassandatowel-rackandaShakerrocking-
chair，\'calledPhilip；\'guessthey\'regoingtostaytherestofthesummer。\'
\'Yes，ofcoursetheywouldn\'twantalooking-glassiftheywereonlygoingtostayamonthortwo，\'laughedBell。
\'DearAuntTruth，ifyouwon\'tletmeturnasingledecorouslittlehand-spring，orblowthehorn，ordoanythingnice，willyouletususeallthatnewwhitemosquito-netting?Bellsaysthatithasbeeninthestorehousefortwoyears，anditwouldbejustthethingfordecoratingElsie\'stent。\'
\'Why，ofcourseyoumayhaveit，Polly，andanythingelsethatyoucanfind。There!IhearDicky\'svoiceinthedistance；perhapsthegirlsarecoming。\'
BellandPollydartedthroughtheswarmoftents，andlookedupthenarrowpaththatledtothebrook。
Sureenough，MargeryandLaurawerestrollingtowardshomewithlittleAnneandDickdanglingbehind，afterthemannerofchildren。
Margerycarriedasmallstringoftrout，andDicktheinevitabletinpailinwhichhealwayskeptanunfortunatefrogortwo。Thegirlshaddiscoveredthathewasinthehabitofcrowdingthecovertightlyoverthepailandkeepinghisvictimsshutupfortwenty-fourhours，afterwhich，hesaid，theywereniceandtame——soverytame，asittranspired，thattheygenerallygaveuptheghostinafewhoursaftertheirrelease。Margeryhadwithdifficultypersuadedhimofhiscruelty，andthecoverhadbeenpiercedwithacertainnumberofair-holes。
\'Guesstheloveliestthingthatcouldpossiblyhappen!\'calledBellatthetopofhervoice。
\'Elsiehascome，\'answeredMargeryinasecond，nobodyknewwhy；\'letmehugherthisminute!\'
