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。
'MydearcousintherearetimeswhenIamgladitisonlysecondcousin，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。
APPEARANCETHEGREATESTDRAMATICCOMPANYONEARTHFACT。
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!'