'Withthosefish?'laughedPolly。'No!you'llhavetowaituntildayafterto-morrow，andthenyourguesswillberight。Isn'titalmosttoogoodtobetrue?'
'Andsheisalmostwell，'addedBell，joyfully，slippingherarmthroughMargery'sandsqueezingitinsheerdelight。'Mrs。Howardsayssheisreallyandtrulybetter。Oh，ifElsieHowardinbedistheloveliest，dearestthingintheworld，whatwillitbeliketohaveheroutofitandwithusinallourgoodtimes!'
'Hasshealwaysbeenillsinceyouknewher?'askedLaura。
'Yes；aterriblecoldleftherwithweaknessofthelungs，andthedoctorsfearedconsumption，butthoughtthatshemightpossiblyoutgrowitentirelyifshelivedinamilderclimate；soMrs。Howardlefthomeandeverybodyshecaredfor，andbroughtElsietoSantaBarbara。Papahastakenaninterestinherfromthefirst，andasfaraswegirlsareconcerned，itwasloveatfirstsight。YouneverknewanybodylikeElsie!'
'Isshepretty?'
'Pretty!'criedPolly，'sheislikeanangelinapicture-book!'
'Interesting?'
'Interesting!'saidBell，inatonethatshowedthewordtobetoofeebleforthesubject；'Elsieismoreinterestingthanalltheothergirlsintheotherworldputtogether!'
'Popular?'
'Popular!'exclaimedMargery，takingherturnintheoralexamination，'Idon'tknowwhetheranybodycanbepopularwhoisalwaysinbed；butifit'spopulartobeadoredbyeveryman，woman，child，andanimalthatcomesanywherenearher，whythenElsieispopular。'
'Andissheafavouritewithboysaswellasgirls?'
'Favourite!'saidBell。'Why，theythinkthatsheissimplyperfect!
Ofcourseshehasscarcelybeenabletositupaweekatatimeforayear，andnaturallyshehasnotseenmanypeople；but，ifyouwantaboy'sopinion，justaskPhiliporGeoffrey。Iassureyou，Laura，afteryouhaveknownElsieawhile，andhaveseentheimpressionshemakesuponeverybody，youwillwanttogotobedandseeifyoucandolikewise。'
'Itisn'tjustthegoingtobed，'remarkedMargery，sagely。
'Anditisn'ttheprettinesseither，'addedPolly；'thoughifyousawElsieasleep，aflowerinonehand，theotherunderhercheek，herhairstrayingoverthepillowOforhairthatwouldstrayanywhere!，youwouldexpecteverymomenttoseeahaloaboveherhead。'
'Idon'tbelieveitisbecausesheisgoodthateverybodyadmiresherso，'saidLaura，'Idon'tthinkgoodnessinitselfisalwayssoveryinteresting；ifElsiehadfrecklesandasnubnose'——'Don'tmindme!'murmuredPolly——'youwouldfindthatpeoplewouldsaylessaboutherwonderfulcharacter。'
'Therearethingsthatpuzzleme，'saidPolly，thoughtfully。'ItseemstomethatifIcouldcontrivetobeeversogood，nobodyeverwouldlookforahaloroundmyhead。Now，isitmyturned-upnoseandredhairthatmakemewhatIam，ordidwhatIammakemynoseandhairwhattheyare——which?'
'We'llhavetoaskAuntTruth，'saidMargery；'thatistoodifficultathingforustoanswer。'
'Wasn'titniceIcatchedthatbigbull-frog，Margie?'criedDick，hiseyesshiningwithanticipation。'NowI'llhaveasmanyassevenor'levenfrogsandlotsofhornedtoadswhenElsiecomes，andshecanhelpmeplaywith'em。'
Whenthegirlsreachedthetentsagain，thelastarticlehadbeentakenfromtheteamandManuelhaddrivenaway。ThesoundofPhil'shammercouldbeheardfromthecarpenter-shop，andPanchowasalreadylayingthetentfloorinasmall，open，sunnyplace，wherethelowboughsofasinglesycamorehungsoastoprotectoneofitscorners，leavingtheresttothefullwarmthofthesunshinethatwastomakeElsieentirelywellagain。
'Iamtiredtodeath，'sighedLaura，throwingherselfdowninabamboolounging-chair。'Suchatrampaswehad!andafterall，theboysinsistedongoingwhereDr。Winshipwouldn'tallowustofollow，sothatwehadtostaybehindandfishwiththechildren；IwishI
hadstayedathomeandreadTheColonel'sDaughter。'
'Oh，Laura!'remonstratedMargery，'thinkofthatlovelypoolwiththeforestsofmaiden-hairgrowingallaboutit!'
'Andpoison-oak，'grumbledLaura。'IknowIwalkedintosomeofitandshalllooklikeaperfectfrightforaweek。Ishallnevermakeacountrygirl——it'snouseformetotry。'
'It'snouseforyoutotrywalkingfourmilesinhigh-heeledshoes，mydear，'saidPolly，bluntly。
'Theyarenothigh，'retortedLaura，'andiftheyare，Idon'tcaretolooklikea——a——cow-boy，eveninthebackwoods。'
'I'manawfulexample，'sighedPolly，seatingherselfonastumpinfrontofthetent，andelevatingaverydustylittlecommon-senseboot。'SirWalterRaleighwouldneverhaveallowedmetowalkonhisvelvetcloakwiththatboot，wouldhe，girls?Oh，wasn'tthatromantic，though?anddon'tIwishthatIhadbeenQueenElizabeth!'
'You'vegottheHAIR，'saidLaura。
'Thankyou!IhadforgottenElizabeth'shairwasred；soitwas。
Thisismycourttrain，'snatchingatablecloththatbungonahushnearby，andpinningittoherwaistinthetwinklingofaneye，——
'thismyfarthingale，'danglinghersun-bonnetfromherbelt，——'thismysceptre，'seizingaJapaneseumbrella，——'thismycrown，'invertingabrighttinplateuponhercurlyhead。'Sheisjustalightingfromherchariot，THUS；thecourtiersturnpale，THUS；whydon'tyoudoit?whatshallbedone?TheRoyalFeetmustnotbewet。"Goroundthepuddle?Prit，meLud，'Od'sbody!Forsooth!Certainlynot!
Removethepuddle!"shesayshaughtilytohersubjects。Theyarejustabouttodoso，whenoutfrombehindaneighbouringchaparralbushstalksabeautifulyoungprincewithcoal-blackhairandrose-
redcheeks。Hewearsarichvelvetcloak，glitteringwithembroidery。Heseesnothercrown，herhairoutshinesit；heseesnothersceptre，hertinyhandconcealsit；heseesnaughtsavetheloathlymud。Hestripsoffhiscloakandfloatsitonthepuddle。
WithahaughtybutgraciousbendofherheadtheQueenacceptsthecourtesy；crossesthepuddle，THUS，waveshersceptre，THUS，andsaying，"Youshallhearfrommebyreturnmail，meLud，"shevanisheswithinthecastle。ThenextmorningshemakesSirWalterBritishMinistertoFlorida。Hedepartsatoncewithacargooftobacco，whichheexchangesforsweetpotatoes，andeverybodyishappyeverafter。'
Thegirlswereconvulsedwithmirthatthishistoricalromance，and，asMrs。Winshipwipedthetearsofmerrimentfromhereyes，Pollyseizedthegoldenopportunityanddroppedonherkneesbesideher。
'Please，AuntTruth，wecan'tgetthewhitemosquito-nettingbecauseDr。Winshiphasthekeyofthestorehouseinhispocket，andso——may——
I——blowthehorn?'
Mrs。Winshipgaveherconsentindespair，andPollywenttotheoak-
treewherethehornhungandblewallthestrengthofherlungsintoblastafterblastforfiveminutes。
'That'sallIneeded，'shesaid，onreturning；'thatwasanescape-
valve，andIshallbelady-likeandwell-behavedtherestoftheday。'
CHAPTERVI:QUEENELSIEVISITSTHECOURT
'Anhourandfriendwithfriendwillmeet，Lipclingtolipandhandclasphand。'
'Now，Laura，'askedBell，whenquietwasrestored，'adviseusaboutElsie'stent。Wewantittobeperfectlylovely；andyouhavesuchgoodtaste!'
'Letmethink，'saidLaura。'Oh，ifshewereonlyabrunetteinsteadofablonde，wecouldfestoonthetentwiththatyellowtarlatanI
broughtfortheplay!'
'Whatdifferencedoesitmakewhethersheisdarkorlight?'askedBell，obtusely。
'Why，aroomoughttobeasbecomingasadress——soMrs。Pinkertonsays。YouknowIsawagreatdealofheratthehotel；andoh，girls!herbedroomwasthemostexquisitethingyoueversaw!ShehadaFrenchtoilet-table，coveredwithpalebluesilkandwhitemarquiselace，——perfectlylovely，——withyardsandyardsofrobin's-
eggbluewateredribboninbows；andonitshekeptallhertoiletarticles，everythinginhammeredsilverfromTiffany'swithmonogramsontheback，——threeorfoursizesofbrushes，andcombs，andmirrors，andafullmanicureset。Itusedtotakehertwohourstodress；butitwasworthit。Oh，suchgorgeoustea-gownsasshehad!Oneofoldroseandlettucewasaperfectdream!Shealwayshadherbreakfastinbed，youknow。Ithinkit'sdelightfultohaveyourbreakfastbeforeyougetup，anddressasslowlyasyoulike。Iwishmammawouldletmedoit。'
'Whatdoesshedoaftershegetsdressedinherrowsofoldlettuce——
Imeanheroldrowsoflettuce?'askedPolly。
'Do?Whyreally，Polly，youaretoostupid!Whatdoyousupposeshedid?Whateverybodyelsedoes，ofcourse。'
'Oh!'saidPolly，apologetically。
'HowoldisMrs。Pinkerton?'askedMargery。
'Betweennineteenandtwenty。Thereisnotthreeyears'differenceinourages，thoughshehasbeenmarriednearlytwoyears。Itseemssofunny。'
'Onlynineteen!'criedBell。'Why，Ialwaysthoughtthatshewasoldasthehills——twenty-fiveorthirtyattheveryleast。Shealwaysseemedtiredofthings。'
'Well，'saidLaura，inawhisperintendedtobetoolowtoreachMrs。
Winship'stent，'Idon'tknowwhetherIoughttorepeatwhatwastoldmeinconfidence，butthefactis——well——shedoesn'tlikeMr。
Pinkertonverywell!'
Theothergirls，whohadnotenjoyedtheadvantagesofcitylifeandtravel，lookedasdazedasanyscandalmongercouldhavedesired。
'Don'tlikehim!'gaspedPolly，nearlyfallingoffthestump。'Why，she'smarriedtohim!'
'Whereonearthwereyoubroughtup?'snappedLaura。'Whatdifferencedoesthatmake?Shecan'thelpitifshedoesn'thappentolikeherhusband，canshe?Youcan'tmakeyourselflikeanybody，canyou?'
'Well，didsheeverlikehim?'askedMargery；'forshe'sonlybeenmarriedayearortwo，anditseemstomeitmighthavelastedthatlongiftherewasanythingtobeginon。'
'But，'whisperedLaura，mysteriously，'youseeMr。PinkertonwasveryrichandtheDentonsverypoor。Mr。Dentonhadjustdied，leavingthemnothingatalltoliveon，andpoorJessiewouldhavehadtoteachschool，orsomedreadfulthinglikethat。Thethoughtofitalmostkilledher，sheissosensitiveandsorefined。Shenevertoldmesoinsomanywords，butIamsureshemarriedMr。Pinkertontosavehermotherfrompoverty；andIpityherfromthebottomofmyheart。'
'Isupposeitwasnoble，'saidBell，inapuzzledtone，'ifshecouldn'tthinkofanyotherway，but——'
'Well，didshetryveryhardtothinkofotherways?'askedPolly。
'Sheneverlookedespeciallynobletome。Ithoughtsheseemedlikeadie-away，frizzlygigkindofagirl。'
'Iwish，MissOliver，thatyouwouldbekindenoughtorememberthatMrs。Pinkertonisoneofmymostintimatefriends，'saidLaura，sharply。'AndIdowish，also，thatyouwouldn'ttalkloudenoughtobeheardallthroughthecanyon。'
ThecolourcameintoPolly'scheeks，butbeforeshecouldanswer，Mrs。Winshipwalkedin，stocking-basketinhand，andseatedherselfinthelittlewickerrocking-chair。Polly'sclariontoneshadgivenheracluetothesubject，andshethoughtthediscussionneededguidance。
'YouweretalkingaboutMrs。Pinkerton，girls，'shesaid，serenely。
'Yousayyouarefondofher，Laura，dear，anditseemsveryungraciousformetocriticiseyourfriend；thatisathingwhichmostofusfailtobearpatiently。ButIcannotletyouholdherupasanidealtobeworshipped，oraskthegirlstoadmireasapieceofself-denialwhatIfearwasnothingbutindolenceandself-
gratification。Youaretooyoungtotalkofthesethingsverymuch；
butyouarenottooyoungtomakeupyourmindthatwhenyouagreetoliveallyourlifelongwithaperson，youmusthavesomeotherfeelingthanadeterminationnottoteachschool。JessieDenton'smother，mydearLaura，wouldneverhaveaskedthesacrificeofherdaughter'swholelife；andJessieherselfwouldneverhavemadeithadshebeenlessvain，proud，andluxuriousinhertastes，andalittlebraver，moreself-forgettingandindustrious。Thesearehardwords，dear，andIamsorrytousethem。Shehasgainedtherichesshewanted，——thecarriagesandservants，andtea-gowns，andhammeredsilverfromTiffany's，butshelookstiredanddisappointed，asBellsays；andI'venodoubtsheis，poorgirl。'
'Idon'tthinkyoudoherjustice，Mrs。Winship；Idon't，indeed，'
saidLaura。
'Ifyouarereallyattachedtoher，Laura，don'tmakethemistakeofadmiringherfaultsofcharacter，buttrytofindherbetterqualities，andhelphertodevelopthem。Itisafatalthingwhengirlsofyouragesetupthesefalsestandards，andordertheirlivesbythem。Thereareworsethingsthanschool-teaching，yes，orevenfloor-scrubbingorwindow-washing。Lovelytea-gownsandsilver-
backedbrushesareallveryprettyandnicetohave，iftheyarenotgainedatthesacrificeofsomethingbetter。Ishouldhavesaidtomydaughter，hadIbeenMrs。Denton，"Wewillworkforeachother，mydarling，andtrytodowhateverGodgivesustodo；but，nomatterhowhardlifeis，yourheartisthemostpreciousthingintheworld，andyoumustneversellthat，ifwepartwitheverythingelse。"Oh，mygirls，mygirls，ifIcouldonlymakeyoubelievethat"poorandcontentisrich，andrichenough。"Icannotbeartothinkofyourgrowingyearbyyearintotheconvictionthattheseprettyglitteringthingsofwealtharethetruegoldoflifewhicheverybodyseeks。
Forgiveme，Laura，ifIhavehurtyourfeelings。'
'Iknowyouwouldneverhurtanybody'sfeelings，ifyoucouldhelpit，Mrs。Winship，'Lauraanswered，withahintofcoldnessinhervoice，'thoughIcan'thelpthinkingthatyouarealittlehardonpoorJessie；but，eventhen，onecansurelylikeapersonwithoutwishingtodotheverysamethingsshedoes。'
'Yes，thatistrue，'saidMrs。Winship，gravely。'Butonecannotconstantlyjustifyawrongactioninanotherwithouthavingone'sownstandardunconsciouslylowered。Whatwecontinuallyexcuseinotherpeopleweshouldbeinclinedbyandbytoexcuseinourselves。Letuschooseourfriendsaswiselyaspossible，andlovethemdearly，helpingthemtogrowworthierofourloveatthesametimewearetryingtogrowworthieroftheirs；because"welivebyadmiration，hope，andlove，"youknow，butnotbyadmiringandlovingthewrongthings。
'Butthereisthehorn，andIheartheboys。Letuscometoluncheon，andtellourgoodnewsofElsie。'
[Musicfollows]
Withincredibleenergy。
Thehorn!Thehorn!Thelus-ty，lus-tyhorn!'Tisnotathingtolaughtoscorn，Athingtolaughtoscorn!
Longbeforetheboysappearedinsight，theirvoicesrangthroughthecanyoninachorusthatwoketheechoes，andpresentlytheycameintoview，bearingtwoquartersandasaddleoffreshlykilledmutton，hangingfromaleafybranchswungbetweenJack'ssturdyshoulderandGeoff's。
'Asplendid"stillhunt"thismorning，AuntTruth!'exclaimedJack。
'Gameplentyandnottooshy，dogsinprimecondition，huntersditto。
Beholdtheresult!'
ThegirlscouldscarcelytellwhetherornoLaurawasoffendedatAuntTruth'sunexpectedlittlelecture。Shedidnotappearquiteasunrestrainedasusual，butaseverybodywasengagedinthepreparationsforElsie'swelcometherewasageneralatmosphereofhilarityandconfusion，sothatnoawkwardnesswaspossible。
Thetool-shopresoundedwithblowsofhammerandsteel。Dickywasundereverybody'sfeet，andhis'sevenortenfrogs，'togetherwithhisunrivalledcollectionofhornedtoads，werecontinuallyescapingfromtheirtinpailsandboxesinthevarioustents，andeverybodywasobligedtojoininthesearchtorecoverandre-incarceratethem，inordertokeepthepeace。
HopYetwasmakingagoldandsilvercake，with'Elsie'inpinklettersonchocolatefrosting。Philiphadpitchedthenewtentsothatinonecornertherewasaslendermanzanita-treewhichhadbeencroppedforsomepurposeorother。Hehadnailedacross-pieceonthis，sothatitresembledtheletterT，andwasnowlaboriouslyboringholesandfittinginpegs，thatElsiemighthaveasortofclosetbehindherbed。
Asfortherusticfurniture，thegirlsandboysdeclaredittobetoobeautifulforwords。Theystoodincirclesaboutitandadmireditwithoutreserve，eachclaimingthathisownspecialpieceofworkwasthegemofthecollection。Thesunlightshiningthroughthegreyandgreentintsofthetentwasvotedperfection，Philip'sclosetamiracleofingenuity，thegreenandwhitestrawmattinganinspiration。
Thelooking-glasshadbeenmountedonapacking-box，andconvertedbyLauraintoadressing-tablethatrivalledMrs。Pinkerton's；forgreentarlatanandwhitemosquito-nettinghadbeensoskilfullycombinedthatthetraditionalmermaidmighthavebeengladtomakehertoiletthere'withacombandaglassinherhand。'Therestofthegreenandwhitegauzystuffhadbeenloopedfromthecornersofthetenttothecentreoftheroof-piece，anddelicatetendrilsofwildclematisclimbedhereandthereasifitweregrowing，itsrootsplungedincunninglyhiddenbottlesofwater。Bellhadgoneaboutwithpiecesofawningclothandgreenbraid，andstitchedanelaboratesystemofpocketsontheinsideofthetentwherevertheywouldnotbetooprominent。Thereweretinypocketsforneedle-work，thimbles，andscissors，medium-sizedpocketsforsoapandcombsandbrushes，biggerpocketsforshoesandslippersandstockings，andmammothpocketsforanythingelsethatElsiemightordaintoputinapocket。
Byfouro'clockintheafternoonMargeryhadusedhercleverfingerstosuchpurposethatawhitesilesiaflag，workedwiththecampname，floatedfromthetiptopofthefrontentrancetothetent。Theceremonyofraisingtheflagwasattendedwithmuchenthusiasm，anditsaccomplishmentgreetedbyadeafeningcheerfromtheentireparty。
'UnlessonewantsParadise，'sighedMargery，'whowouldn'tbecontentedwithdearCampChaparral?'
'Whowouldliveinahouse，anyway?'exclaimedPhilip。'Sniffthisair，andlookupatthatsky!'
'Andthisiswhattheycall"roughingit，"inSantaBarbara，'quothDr。Winship。'Why，youyoungstershavemadethattentfitfortheoccupancyofasocietybelle。'
'Now，let'sorganiseforreception!'criedGeoffrey。'Assemble，goodpeople!Comeoverhere，AuntTruth!Iwilltakethechairmyself，sinceIdon'thappentoseeanybodywhowouldfillitwithmoredignity。'
'Iamgoingtomountmybronchoandgooutontheroadtomeetmybelovedfamily，'saidJack，saunteringuptotheimpromptucouncil-
chamber。
'Howcanyoutellwhentheywillarrive?'askedMrs。Winship。
'Icanmakeaprettygoodguess。They'llprobablystartfromTacitasasearlyaseightornineo'clock，ifElsieiswell。Let'ssee:
it'sabouttwenty-fivemiles，isn'tit，UncleDoc?Saytwenty-threetotheplacewheretheyturnoffthemainroad。Well，I'lltakeabitoflunch，rideouttenortwelvemiles，hitchmyhorseintheshade，andwait。'
'Verywell，'saidGeoffrey。'Itisnotusualforcommitteestoappointthemselves，butasyouareanearrelativeofourdistinguishedguestswewillgrantyouspecialconsiderationandorderyoutothefront。Ladiesandgentlemen，passingovertheslightinformalityofthenomination，allinfavourofappointingMr。
JohnHowardEnvoyExtraordinarypleasemanifestitbytheusualsign。'
Sixpersonsyelled'Ay，'fourraisedtherighthand，andonestoodup。
'Thereseemstobeaslightdifferenceofopinionastotheusualsign。Allright——Contraryminded!'
'No!'shoutedPolly，atthetopofherlungs。
'Itisaunanimousvote，'saidGeoffrey，crushingly，bringingdownhisfistasanimaginarygavelwithincredibleforceanddignity。
'Dr。andMrs。Winship，willyouobligetheChairbyactingasaspecialReceptionCommittee?'
'Certainly，'respondedthedoctor，smilingly。'WilltheChairkindlyoutlinethegeneralpolicyofthecommittee?'
'Hm-m-m!Yes，certainly——ofcourse。TheChairsuggeststhattheReceptionCommittee——well，thattheystayathomeand——receivetheguests，——yes，thatwilldoverynicely。All-in-favour-and-so-forth-
it-is-a-vote-and-so-ordered。Secretarywillpleasespreadacopyontheminutes。'Gavel。
'Irisetoapointoforder，'saidJack，sagely。'Thereisnosecretaryandtherearenominutes。'
'Mereform，'saidtheChair；'sitdown；therewillbeminutesinaminute，——gottodosomemorethingsfirst；thatwilldo，SITDOWN。
WilltheMissesBurtonandMessrs。BurtonandNoblekindlyactasCommitteeonDecoration?'
'Where'stheCommitteeonMusic，andRefreshments，andOlympianGames，andallthatsortofthing?'interruptedPolly，whohadnottheslightestconceptionofparliamentaryetiquette；'andwhydon'tyouhurryupandputmeonsomething?'
'IfMissOliverrefusestobridlehertongue，andpersistsininterruptingthebusinessofthemeeting，theChairwillbeobligedtoremoveher，'saidGeoffrey，withchillingemphasis。
Pollyroseagain，undaunted。'IwouldrespectfullyasktheChair，whoputhiminthechair，anyway?'
'Question!'roaredPhilip。
'Secondthemotion!'shriekedBell，thatbeingtheonlyparliamentaryexpressionsheknew。
'Order!'criedGeoffreyinstentorianaccents。'Iwilladjournthemeetingandclearthecourt-roomunlessthereisorder。'
'Do!'remarkedPolly，encouragingly。'Iwillriseagain，likePhoebus，frommyashes，tosaythat——'
HereJacksprangtohisfeet。'IwouldsuggesttotheChairthatthelastspeakeramendhermotionbysubstitutingtheword"Phoenix"for"Phoebus。"'
'Accepttheamendment，'saidPolly，serenely，amidstthegeneralhilarity。
'Question!'calledBell，withanothermightyprojectionofmemoryintoamissionarymeetingthatshehadonceattended。
'Iamnotawarethatthereisanymotionbeforethehouse，'saidGeoffrey，cuttingly。
'Secondthemotion!'
'Secondtheamendment!'shoutedthegirls。
'Ladies，thereISnomotion。WillyouobligetheChairbyremainingquietuntilspeechisrequested?'
'Movethatthemeetingbeadjournedandanotheronecalled，withanewChair!'remarkedMargery，whofeltthatthehonourofhersexwasatstake。
'Movethatthismotionbesoorderedandspreadupontheminutes，andacopyofitbepresentedtotheChairman，'suggestedPhilip。
'MovethatthecopybeappropriatelyboundinCALF，'saidJack，dodginganimaginaryblow。
'Movethattheothercommitteesbeelectedbyballot，'concludedScottBurton。
'Thisissimplydisgraceful!'exclaimedtheChair。'Order!order!I
appointMissOliverCommitteeonEntertainment，withaviewofkeepingherstill。'
Thiswasreceivedwithparticularaswellasgeneralsatisfaction。
'MissWinship，weappointyouCommitteeonMusic。'
'Allright。Doyouwishittobeoriginal?'
'Certainlynot；wewishittobegood。'
'Butweonlyknowonechorus，andthat's"MyWitchingDinahSnow。"'
'Nevermind；eitherwritenewwordstothattuneorsingtra-la-latoit。Mr。RichardWinship，theChairappointsyouCommitteeonMenagerie，andsuggeststhataswehaveproclaimedalegalholiday，yougiveyouranimalsthefreedomofthecity。'
'Don'tknowwhatfreedomofercitymeans，'saidDicky，whofearedthathewasbeingmadethebuttofridicule。
'Why，wewantyoutoallowthecaptivestoparadeintheevening，withtorch-lightsandmottoes。'
'Allright!'criedDicky，kindlinginaninstant；''n'Luby，'n'thedoat，'n'myhorn'toads，alle'cepttheonethatjustgottedawayinLaura'sbed；butmaybeshe'llfindhimto-night，sothey'llbeallthere。'
Thiswastoomuchforthevariouscommittees，andLaura'swildshriekwasthesignalforahastyadjournment。Acommondangerrestoredpeacetotheassembly，andtheysoughttherunawayinperfectharmony。
'Well，'saidJack，whenquietwasrestored，'IamgoingalittledistanceupthePicoNegrotrail；therearesomemagnificentSpanishbayonetsgrowingthere，andifyou'llletmehavePancho，UncleDoc，wecanbringdownfourofthemandlashthemtoeachofthecornersofElsie'stent，——they'llkeepfreshseveraldaysinwater，youknow。'
'Takehim，certainly，'saidDr。Winship。
'Doletmegowithyou!'pleadedLaura，withenthusiasm。'Ishouldlikethewalksomuch。'
'It'sprettyrough，Laura，'objectedMargery。'Ifyoucouldn'tendureourwalkthismorning，youwouldnevergethomealivefromPicoNegro。'
'Oh，thatwasintheheatoftheday，'sheanswered。'Ifeelequaltoanyamountofwalkingnow，ifJackdoesn'tmindtakingme。'
'Delighted，ofcourse，MissLaura。You'llbewillingtocarryhomeoneofthetrees，Isuppose，inreturnforthepleasureofmysociety?'
'Snubhimseverely，Laura，'criedBell；'weneverallowhimtosaysuchthingsunreproved。'
'Ithinkheissnubbedtoomuchalready，'repliedLaura，withacharmingsmile，'andIshallseehowacourseofencouragementwillaffecthisbehaviour。'
'ThatwillbewhatIlonghavesought，AndmournedbecauseIfounditnot，'
sangJack，nonchalantly。
'Oh，Laura，'remonstratedBell，'thinktwicebeforeyouencouragehiminhisdreadfulways。Wehavestudiedhimverycarefully，andweknowthattheonlywaytolivewithhimistokeephiminasortof"pintpot"wherewecanholdthelidopenjustalittle，andclapitdownsuddenlywheneverhetriestospringout。'
'Donotmindthatyoungperson，MissLaura，butformyourownimpressionsofmycharmingcharacter。Excuseme，please，whileIputonacelluloidcollar，andmakesomefewchangesinmytoiletnecessarytoaproperappearanceinyourdistinguishedcompany。'
'Ipreferyouasyouare，'answeredLaura，laughingly。'Letusstartatonce。'
'Doyouhearthat，youngperson?SheprefersmeasIare!Nowseewhatmagicpowerhergenerosityhasuponme!'Andhedartedintothetent，fromwhichheissuedinamomentwithhisDerbyhat，amanzanitacane，apocket-handkerchieftiedabouthisthroat，andaflowerpinnedonhisflannelcamping-shirt——amostridiculousfigure，sincenothingseemssooutofplaceinthewoodsasanysuggestionofcitycostumesorcustoms。Laurawasinhighgood-humour，andlookedexceedinglybrilliantandpretty，asshealwaysdidwhenshewasthecentralfigureofanygrouporthebrightparticularstarofanyoccasion。
'Behomebeforedark，'saidDr。Winship。'Pancho，keepalook-outforthepack-mule。Truth，oneofthepack-muleshasdisappeared。'
'So?DumplingorDitto?'
'Ditto，curiouslyenough。Hisnameshouldhaveledhimnottosetanexample，buttofollowone。'
Elsiecame。
Perhapsyouthoughtthatthiswasgoingtobeanexcitingstory，andthatsomethingwouldhappentokeepherattheTacitasranch；butnothingdid。Everythingcametopassexactlyasitwasarranged，andJackmethismotherandsisterattwelveo'clocksomefourmilesfromthecamp，andescortedthemtothegates。
'Welcome'hadbeenpaintedontwentydifferentboardsorbitsofwhiteclothandpaper，andnailedhereandthereonthetreesthatlinedtheroughwood-road；thestrainsofanorchestra，formedofaguitar，banjo，castanets，Chinesefiddle，andtincans，greetedthemfromadistance，butwereproperlyallowedtodieawayinsilencewhentheguestnearedthetents。Everythingworeanewandsmilingface，andElsienevercamemoredangerouslynearbeingsqueezedtodeath。
Elsie，intheprettiestofginghamdresses，andhercloudofgoldenhairbraidedintwofunnylittlepugstokeepitoutofthedust；
Elsie，withawidehatthatshadedherface，alreadyalittletannedandburned，nolongercolourless；Elsie，withnolinesofpaininherprettyforehead，andthehollowringgonefromhervoice；Elsie，whojumpedoverthewheelofthewagon，andhuggedherhuggerswiththestrengthofayoungbear!Itwastoogoodtobelieve，andnobodydidquitebelieveitfordays。
Atthreeo'clockthehappiestpartyintheworldassembledattheroughdining-tableunderthesycamore-trees。
Elsiebeameduponthefeastfromthehigh-backedmanzanitachair，afaintcolourinhercheeks，andstarryprismsoflightinapairofeyesthathadnotsparkledformanyawearymonth。HopYetsmiledatriflehimself，worehiscapwitharedbuttononthetoptowaituponthetable，andministeredtothehungrypeoplewithmoreinterestandalacritythanhehadshownsincehehadbeendraggedfromSantaBarbara，hisJoss，andhisnightlygameoffantan。Andsuchadinnerashehadpreparedinhonouroftheoccasion!——longerbyfourcoursesthanusual，andeachpersonwasallowedtwoplatesinthecourseofthemeal。