第4章

"Why，IcertainlythoughtIheardhimasktogowithyou，"saidMrs。

Winship，inratheranalarmedtone。

"Sohedid；butItoldhimitwastoofar。"

"Ididn"thearthat；infact，Iwashalfasleep；Iwasnotfeelingwell。AskHopYet；hehasbeeninthekitchenalltheafternoon。"

HopYetreplied，withdiscouragingtranquillity，"Oh，Inoknow。I

nosabeDicky；healleetimelunlouncamp；Inolook；toomucheework。Ichophash——Dickycomeinkitch"——makeheapwork——nogood。I

tellhimgolong——hego；bime-byyoucatchum；yousee。"Whereuponhegracefullyskinnedanonion，andburstintoaChinesesong，withcompleteindifferenceastowhetherDickylivedordied。

"PerhapsheiswithPancho；I"llrunandsee!"criedPolly，dashingswiftlyinthedirectionofthesky-parlour。Butafterafewminutessheranback，withaseriousface。"He"snotthere；Panchohasnotseenhimsincelunch。"

"Well，I"vejusthappenedtothink，"saidpaleAuntTruth，"thatpapacameintothetentforsomecartridges，afteryouleft，andofcoursehetookDickwithhim。Idon"tsupposeitisanyusetoworry。Healwaysdoescomeoutright；andIhavetoldhimsomanytimesneveronanyaccounttogoawayfromthecampalonethathesurelywouldnotdoit。Papaandtheboyswillbehomesoon，now。Itisnearlysixo"clock，andItoldthemthatIwouldblowthehornatsix，asusual。Iftheyaretoofarawaytohearit，theywillknowthetimebythesun。"

"Well，"saidBell，anxiously，"Ihopeitisallright。Papaissostrictthathewon"tbelatehimself。Didalltheboysgowithhim，mamma?"

"Yes，allbutPhilip。"

"Oh，thenDickymustbewiththem，"saidMargery，consolingly。

"Geoffreyalwaystakeshimwhereverhecan。"

Sothegirlswentintothetenttobegintheirdinnertoilet，whichconsistedincarefullybrushingburrsanddustfromtheirprettydresses，anddonningfreshcollarsandstockings，withlowtiesofrussetleather，whichPollydeclaredbelongedonlytothestageconceptionofacampingcostume；then，withsmoothlybrushedhairandbrightflower-knotsatcollarandbelt，theylookedcharmingenoughtograceanydrawing-roomintheland。

Thehornwasblownagainatsixo"clock，AuntTruthstandingattheentranceofthepathwhichledupthecanyon，shadingheranxiouseyesfromthelightofthesettingsun-

"Heretheycome!"shecried，joyously，asthewelcomepartyappearedinsight，gunsovershoulder，fullgame-bags，andJackandGeoffwithafewrabbitsandquailhangingovertheirarms。

Thegirlsrushedoutofthetent。Belltookinthewholegroupwithoneswiftglance，andthenturnedtohermother，who，likemostmothers，believedtheworstatonce，andgrewpalerassheasked:

"Papa，whereislittleDick?"

"Dick!Why，mydear，hehasnotbeenoutwithus。Whatdoyoumean?"

"Areyousureyoudidn"ttakehim?"falteredAuntTruth。

"OfcourseIam。Goodheavens!Doesn"tanyoneknowwherethechildis?"lookingatthefrightenedgroup。

"Youknow，uncle，"saidGeoffrey，"westartedoutatthreeo"clock。

InoticedDickyplayingwithhisblocksinourtent，andsaidgood-

byetohim。Didyouseehimwhenyoucamebackforthecartridges?"

"CertainlyIdid；hecalledmetolookathisdogmakingbelievegotosleepinthehammock。"

"Wegirlswentdowntothepoolsoonafterthat，"saidBell，tearfully。"Heaskedtogowithus，andItoldhimitwastoofar，andthathe"dbetterstaywithmamma，whowouldbeallalone。Hesaid"Yes"sosweetlyIcouldn"tmistrusthim。Oh，wasitmyfault，papa?Pleasedon"tsayitwas!"andsheburstintoapassionofsobs。

"No，no，mychild，ofcourseitwasnot。Don"tcry；weshallfindhim。Goandlookaboutthecamp，Geoff，whileweconsiderforaminutewhattodo?"

"Ifthereisanyfault，itismine，forgoingtosleep，"saidpoorAuntTruth；"butIneverdreamedhewoulddaretowanderoffalone，mypoorlittledisobedientdarling!Whatshallwedo?"

"HaveyouspokentoPanchoandHopYet?"askedPhil。

"Yes；theyhaveseennothing。"

HopYetjustatthismomentissuedfromhiskitchenwithanimmenseplatterofmutton-stewanddumplings，whichhedepositedonthetable。Onbeingquestionedagain，heansweredasbefore，withthegreatestserenity，intimatingthatDickywouldcomehome"heapbime-

by"whenhegot"plentyhungly。"Heseemedtothinkalostboyortwoinafamilyratheratriflethanotherwise，andwounduphisunfeelingremarkswiththepracticalone，"Dinnerallleady；younoeatmutton，hegetcold!MisserWins"，Inofindpickle；youcatchum!"

"Idon"tbelievehewouldcareifwealldiedrightbeforehiseyes，"

mutteredPolly，angrily。"IshouldjustliketoseeaChinaman"sheartonce，andfindoutwhetheritwasmadeofresin，orcuttle-

fish，orwhat。"

"Well，"saidPhil，asDr。Winshipcamethroughthetreesfromthecard-room，"wemuststartoutthisinstant，andofcoursewecanfindhimsomehow，somewhere；hehasn"tbeengoneovertwohours，andhecouldn"twalkfar，that"scertain。Now，UncleDoc，shallweallgodifferentways，andleavethegirlsheretoseeifhedoesn"tturnup?"

"Oh，papa，"criedBell，donotleaveusathome!Wecanhuntaswellasanyone；weknoweveryfootofthecanyon。LetmegowithGeoff，andwe"llfollowthebrooktrail。"

"Verywell。Now，mamma，PanchoandIwillgodowntothemainroad，andyouwaitpatientlyhere。Makeallthenoiseyoucan，children；

andtheonewhofindshimmustcomebacktothecampandblowthehorn。HopYet，wegonow；ifDickycomesback，youblowthehornyourself，willyou?"

"Alllight，boss。Youeatumdinnernow；thengobime-by；muttonheapcold；you——"

"Dinner!"shoutedJack。"Confoundyourimpudence!Ifyousaydinneragain，I"llcutthequeueoffyourstupidhead。"

"Good!"murmuredPolly，givingasavagepunchtoherblueTamo"

Shantercap。

"Jack，Jack!"remonstratedAuntTruth。

"Iknow，dearauntie；butthecallousoldheathenmakesmesomadI

can"tcontainmyself。Come，Margery，let"sbeoff。Getyourshawl；

andhurrahfortheonewhocomesbacktoblowthehornfirst!I"llwageryoutentooneI"llhaveDickinauntie"slapinsidethehour!"——atwhichAuntTruth"seyesbrightened，andshebegantotakeheartagain。Butashetorepastthebrushkitchenandoutintothewoods，draggingMadgeafterhimatabreathlesspace，heshuthislipstogetherrathergrimly，saying，"I"dgivefivehundreddollars(s"posin"Ihadacent)toseethatyoungstersafeagain。"

"Tellmeonething，Jack，"saidMargery，herteethchatteringwithnervousness；"arethereanyanimalsinthiscanyonthatwouldattackhim?"

"Oh，ofcourseitispossiblethataCalifornialionorawild-catmightcomedowntothebrooktodrink——theyhavebeenkilledhereabouts——butIhardlybelieveitislikely；andneitherdoI

believetheywouldbeapttohurthim，anyway，forhewouldneverattackthem，youknow。WhatIamafraidofisthathehastumbledovertherockssomewhereinclimbing，ortangledhimselfupinthechaparral。Hecouldn"thavemadeoffwithapistol，couldhe?Heisuptoallsuchtricks。"

Presentlythecanyonbegantoechowithstrangesounds，whichIhavenodoubtsenttheowls，birds，andrabbitsintofitsofterror；fortheboyshadwhistlesandpistols，whilePollyhadtakenatinpanandahammer。ShehadgonewithPhiloutbehindthethicketofmanzanitabushes，andtheybothstoodmotionless，undecidedwheretogo。

"Oh，Phil，Ican"thelpit；Imustcry，Iamsofrightened。Letmesitdownasecond。Yes，Iknowit"sanant-hill，andIshouldn"tcareifitwereahornets"nest——Ideservetobestung。WhatdoyouthinkIsaidtoMargerythismorning?ThatDickywasaperfectlittlemarplot，andspoiledallourfun，andIwishedhewereinthebottomoftheRedSea；andthenIcalledhimak-k-k-ill-joy!"andPollyburiedherheadinherblueTam，andcriedagood，honest，old-

fashionedcry。

"There，chirkup，poorlittlesoul，anddon"tyoufretoveracarelessspeech，thatmeantnothingatall。I"vewishedhimintheRedSeamorethanonce，butI"mblessedifIeverdoitagain。Come，let"sgooveryonder，wherewecaughttheyoungowl；Dickymayhavewantedtotrythatlittlegameagain。"

Sotheywenton，calling，listening，thenstrugglingonagain，moreanxiouseverymoment，butnotsothoroughlydazedasBell，whohadrockedherbaby-brotherinhiscradle，andtowhomhewastheembodimentofeveryearthlygrace，ifnotofeveryheavenlyvirtue。

"Imighthaveknownthiswouldhappen，"shesaid，miserably。"Heissocarelessthat，ifweeverfindhimagain，wemustkeephimtiedtosomething。"

"Takecareofyoursteps，dear，"saidGeoff，"andmunchthiscracker，oryouwon"thavestrengthenoughtogoonwithme。Iwishitwerenotgettingsodark；themomentthesungetsbehindthesemountain-

topsthelightseemstovanishinaninstant——Dick-y!"

"Thinkofthepoordarlingoutinthisdarkness——hungry，frightened，andalone，"sighedBell。"It"spasthisbed-timenow。Oh，whydidweevercometostayinthishorribleplace!"

"Youmustnotblametheplace，dear；wethoughtitthehappiestintheworldthismorning。Herewearebytheupperpool，andthepathstops。Whichwayhadwebettergo?"

"I"vebeenherebeforeto-day，"saidBell；"wemightfollowthetrailImade。Butwhereismystring?Lightamatch，Geoff，please。"

"Whatstring?Whatdoyoumean?"

"Why，Ifoundabeautifulspotthismorning，and，fearingIshouldn"trememberthewayagain，Itookoutmyballoftwineanddroppedawhitelineallthewayback，likeAriadne；butIdon"tseeit。Wherecanithavedisappeared——unlessJackorPhiltookittoteaseme?"

"Ohno；I"vebeenwiththemallday。Perhapsasnakehasswallowedit。Come。"

ButabrightideahadpoppedintoBell"shead。"Iwanttogothatway，Geoff，dear；it"sasgoodasanyother，andthereareflowersjusttheotherside，inanopen，sunnyplace；perhapshefoundthem。"

"Allright；let"sgoahead。"

"Thetroubleis，Idon"tknowwhichwaytogo。Hereistherock；I

rememberitwasaspottedone，withtallfernsgrowingbesideit。

NowIwent——letmesee——thisway，"andtheybothplungedintothethickbrush。

"Bell，Bell，thisisutternonsense!"criedGeoff。"Nochildcouldcrawlthroughthistangle。"

"Dickycouldcrawlthroughanythinginthisuniverse，ifitwasthewrongthing；heisn"tafraidofbeast，bird，orfish，andhepositivelyenjoysgettingscratched，"saidBell。

Meanwhile，whathadbecomeofthissmallhero，andwhatwashedoing?

Hewaslastseeninthehammock，playingwiththelong-sufferingterrier，Lubin，whowasmakingbelievegotosleep。Itprovedtobeentirelyamake-believe；for，atthefirstlooseningofDicky"sstranglingholduponhisthroat，hetumbledoutofthehammockanddartedintothewoods。Dickyfollowed，butLubinwasfleetoffoot，anditwasadesperateandexcitingraceforfulltenminutes。

Atlength，asLubinheardhislittlemaster"sgleefullaugh，herealisedthathisangerwasathingofthepast；consequently，hewheeledaboutandranintoDicky"soutstretchedarms，lickinghisfaceandhandsexuberantlyinthejoyofcompleteforgiveness。

BythistimethevoiceofconscienceinDicky"ssoul——anditwasavery，verystill，smalloneonalloccasions——wasentirelysilenced。

Hestrayedintoasunnyspot，andpickedflowersenoughtotrimhislittlesailorhat，probablydiviningthatthiswaswhatlostchildreninSunday-schoolbooksalwaysdid，anditwouldbedishonourablenottokeepupthesuperstition。Thenhebuiltafine，strongdamofstonesacrossthebrook，wadingtoandfrowithoutthebotheroftakingoffhisshoesandstockings，andfilledhishatwithrocksandsunkittothebottomforawharf，keepinghishat-bandtotieanunhappyfrogtoabitofbark，andsettinghimafloatasthecaptainofaslave-ship。When，atlength，thestrugglingcreaturefreedhimselffromhisbondsandleapedintothepool，Dickyplayedthathewasadrowningchild，andthrewLubinintothewatertorescuehim。

Inthesemerryanticsthehoursflewbyunnoticed；hehadneverbeenhappierinhislife，anditflashedthroughhismindthatifhewereleftentirelytohimselfheshouldalwaysbegood。

"HereI"vebeenawholedayoffulgoodbymyloneself；haven"tsaidonenottywordordidonenottyfing，norgottedscoldedasingulwunst，didI，Lubin?Iguesswebetterlivehere；bettentwe，Lubin?

Andvenwewuntgitstuckinterbedfurwettin"ourfeetslittleteentymitesofwetev"rysingulnightallthelivelongdays，willwe，Lubin?"

ButthiswasalongperiodofreflectionforMasterDicky，andhecaperedon，fartherandfarther，thewatersozzlingfrightfullyinhislittlecopper-toedboots。Atlengthhesatdownonastonetoresthimself，and，glancingaimlesslyabout，hiseyesfellonawhitestring，whichhegraspedwithalacrity，pullingitsendfrombeneaththestoneonwhichhesat。

"LubyWinship，theanjullsgavedmethisstringfurtermakeanoffulsplendidtightharnessforyou，littleLuby；andyoucandragbigheavystones。Won"tthatbenice?"

Lubinlookeddoubtful，andwaggedhistaildissentingly，asmuchastosaythathisideasofangelministrationswereatrifledifferent。

Buttherewasnoendtothestring!Howvery，verycurious!Dickywoundandwoundandcreptandcreptalong，untilhewasthoroughlytiredbutthoroughlydeterminedtoseeitthrough；andLubin，meanwhile，hadseizedthefirstconvenientmoment，afterthementionoftheharness，toretiretothecamp。

Atlength，ohjoy!thetiredandtornlittleman，followingcarefullytheleading-string，issuedfromthescratchingbushesintoaclean，beautiful，roundplace，withagreatrestful-lookingstumpinthecentre，androunditsbaseasmallforestofsnowytoadstools。Whatcouldbealoveliersurprise!Dickyclappedhishandsingleeashelookedatthem，andthoughtofalittleverseofpoetrywhichBellhadtaughthim:

"Somefairyumbrellascameupto-dayUndertheelm-tree，justovertheway，Andaswehavehadashowerofrain，Thereasontheycameismadeveryplain:

To-nightisthewoodlandfairies"ball，Anddropsfromtheelm-treemightonthemfall，Solittleumbrellaswaitforthemhere，Andundertheirshelterthey"lldancewithoutfear。

Takecarewhereyoustep，norcrushthem，Ipray，Forfearyouwillfrightenthefairiesaway。"

"Oh!"thoughtDicky，inatranceofdelight，"nowIshallgotothefairies"ball，andsee"emdanceunderthecunninglittleteentyumberells；andwunttheybemadathomewhennobuddycan"tsee"embutjustonlyme!Andthenifthatpotryisabigwhopper，likethatthereuvverone——"laddin-lampstoryofBell"s——I"lljustpickevrywhitetoadstoolformypapa"sSundaydinner，andshesha"n"tneverseeasingulfairydance。"

Buthewaitedverypatientlyforalong，longtimethatseemedlikeyears，forLubinhaddisappeared；andallatonceitgrewsodarkinthisthickly-woodedplacethatDicky"scourageoozedoutinasinglemoment，withoutanypreviouswarningsastoitsintention。Thetoadstoolslookedliketheghostsoflittlepast-and-gonefairyumbrellasinthedarkness，andnotasinglefairycouplecametowaltzundertheirsnowycanopies，orexchangeafurtivekissbeneaththeirfriendlyshadows。

Dickythoughtthesituationexceedinglygloomy，and，withoutknowingit，followedtheexampleofmanyolderpeople，who，onbeingdesertedbyman，experiencedtheirfirstdesiretofindfavourwithGod。Hewasnotintheleastdegreeasaintlychild，buthefeltinstinctivelythatthiswasthepropertimeforprayer；andnotknowinganythingappropriatetotheoccasion，herepeatedoverandoveragainthetime-wornplaintofchildhood:-

"NowIlaymedowntosleep，IpraytheLordmysoultokeep；

IfIshoulddiebeforeIwake，IpraytheLordmysoultotake。Amen。"

Likeoldermortalsoffeeblefaith，helookedforanimmediateandpracticalanswer，intheshape，perhaps，ofhismother，withhislittlenight-gownandbowlofbreadandmilk。

"Mysakesalive!"hegrumbledbetweenhissobs，"they"rethemeanestfingsIeversaw。Howlongdotheys"poseI"mgoin"towaitfor"eminthisdark?Whenthebearshaveetmeupinteentysnips，thenthey"llbesaterfied，Iguess，andwishtthey"dtookenedgoodercareofme——alittlespeckofaboy，leftedoutinthisdark，bear-yplace，allbyhisloneself。O——oo——oo——oh!"andhewoundupwithamurderousyell，whichhadneverfailedbeforetobringthewholefamilytohisside。

Hisformerprayerseemingtobeinvain，hefoundasoftplace，brusheditascleanaspossible，andwithdifficultybendinghislittlestiff，scratchedbodyintoakneelingposition，heprayedhisnightlypostscriptto"NowIlayme":"Godblesspapa，"n"mamma，"n"Bell，"n"Jack，"n"Madge，"n"Polly，"n"Phil，"n"Geoff，"n"

Elsie。"Then，realizingthathewasinaperilousposition，anditbehovedhimtobeaspiousaspossible，headded:"AndpleaseblessPancho，"n"HopYet，"n"Lubin，"n"thegoat——notthewildgoatuponthehill，butmygoat，whatgotsicktohisstummickwhenIpaintedhimwithblackletters。"

Whatadreadfulcalamity，tobesure，ifthewronggoathadbeenblessedbymistake!Hiswholedutyperformed，hepickedthetoadstoolsforhispapa"sSundaydinner，and，leaninghisheadagainstthelonestump，criedhimselftosleep。

Butreliefwasnear，thoughhelittlesuspecteditashelayinthesound，dreamlesssleepwhichcomesonlytothetrulygood。Therewasacrashingsoundinthestilldarkness，andBellplungedthroughthethickunderbrushwithacryofdelight。

"Heishere!Dear，dearGeoff，heisallhere!Iknewit，Iknewit!Hurrah!——no，Imean——thankGod!"shesaidsoftlyasshestoopeddowntokisshermischievouslittlebrother。

"Butwhatalookingcreature!"exclaimedGeoff，ashestoopedovertherecoveredtreasure。"See，Bell，hiscurlsareglisteningwithpitch，hisdressistornintoribbons，andhishands——ugh，howdirty!"

"Poorlittledarling，heisthoroughlyusedup，"whisperedBell，wipingtearsofjoyfromherbrowneyes。"Now，I"llrunhomelikelightningtoblowthehorn；andyoucarryDicky，forheistoosleepyandstifftowalk；and，Geoff"——(hereshelaidanembarrassedhandonhisshoulder)——"I"mafraidhe"llbeawfullycross，butyou"llnotmindit，willyou?He"ssoworn-out。"

"NotI，"laughedGeoff，ashedroppedabrotherlykissonBell"spalecheek。"ButI"venoideaoflettingyougoalone；you"retiredtodeath，andyou"llmissthepath。IwishIcouldcarryyouboth。"

"Tired——afraid!"criedBell，witharinginglaugh，whileDickywokewithastare，andnestledonGeoffrey"sshoulderasifnothinghadhappened。"Why，nowthatthisweightisliftedoffmyheart，Icouldseeapathinanuntravelledforest!Good-bye，youdear，darling，cruelboy!Imustrun，foreverymomentisprecioustomamma。"Andwithonestranglinghug，whichmadeDicky"sribscrack，shedashedoff。

Ohhowjoyously，howsweetlyandtunefully，thefuriousblastoftheoldcrackeddinner-hornfellontheanxiousearsinthatcanyon。Itseemedclearerandmoremusicalthanachimeofsilverbells。

Inatricethewanderingcoupleshadgatheredjubilantlyroundthecamp-fire，allembracingBell，whowastheheroineofthehour——

entirelybychance，andnotthoughsuperiorvisionorcourage，assheconfessed。

ItwashardlyfifteenminuteswhenGeoffstrodeintotheringwithhissorry-lookingburden，whichhelaidimmediatelyinAuntTruth"slap。

"Ohmydarling!"shecried，embracinghimfondly。"Tothinkyouarereallynotdead，afterall!"

"No，heisaboutasaliveasanychapIeversaw。"Andwhilethehappyparentscaressedtheirrestoreddarling，Geoffgatheredthegirlsandboysaroundthedinner-table，andrepeatedsomeofDicky"sremarksonthehomewardtrip。

Itseemsthatheconsideredhimselftheinjuredparty，andwithgreatingenuitylaidalltheblameofthemishaponhiselders。

"Nobuddytakescareofme，anyhow，"hegrumbled。"Ifmypapawasn"tameanfingI"dortertohaveablacknursewithawhitecapandapurn，likeBillyThomas，"n"thenIcouldn"tgitlostedsooffuleasy。An"youallnevercaredacentaboutiteither，oryou"dafoundedmequicker"nthis——"n"I"vebeenhungryfurnineteenhours，"n"IguessI"vebeengonetillDecember，bythefeelin"，butyouwastoolazytofoundme"fIfreezedtodef——"n"thereain"tbutonesingulboyofmeroundthewholecamp，"n""twouldservededyourightifIhadgotlostedforever；thenIbetyouwouldn"thadmuchfunFourthofJuly"thoutmytwobits"n"myfire-crackers!"

Itwasanhourortwobeforepeaceandquietwererestoredtothecamp。Thelong-delayeddinnerhadtobeeaten；andtoHopYet"scalmdelight，itwasaverybadone。Dicky"ssmallwoundsweredressedwithsweetoil，andafterbeingfedandbathedhewastuckedlovinglyintobed，withahundredkissesormorefromthewholeparty。

Alittlerestandattentionhadentirelyrestoredhisgood-humour；

andwhenDr。Paulwentintothetenttoseethatallwassafeforthenight，hefoundhimsittingupinbedwithagleefulcountenance，prattlinglikealittleangel。

"Wehadanoffulfunnytime"boutmygittin"losted，didn"twe，mamma?"chuckledhe，withhisgurglinglittlelaugh。"NexttimeI"mgoin"togetlostedinannoverbran"-newplacewhereno-bud-dycanfindme!Ifinkitwasthenicesttime"ceptFourthofJuly，don"tyou，mamma?"Andhepattedhismother"scheekandimprintedanoilykissthereon。

"Truth，"saidtheDoctor，withmildseverity，"Iknowyoudon"tbelieveinapplyingtheslipper，butIdothinkweshouldarrangesomeplanforgivingthatchildanideaofthesolemnityoflife。SofarasIcanjudge，helooksatitasoneprolongedpicnic。"

"Mysentimentsexactly!"criedBell，energetically。"Ican"tstandmanymoreofthesetryingscenes；Iamworntoa"shadder。""

Dickytuckedhisheadunderhismother"sarm，withasighofreliefthattherewasoneperson，atleast，whosesentimentswerealwaysfavourableandalwaystobereliedupon。

"Iloveyouthebestofanybuddy，mamma，"whisperedhe，andfellasleep。

CHAPTERIV:RHYMEANDREASON

ABUDGETOFLETTERSFROMTHECAMPMAIL-BAG

"Theletterofafriendisalikenesspassingtrue。"

OurfriendPollywasseatedinasecludedspotwhenceallbutherhadfled；hergravedemeanour，herdiscardedsun-bonnet，hercorrugatedbrow，allbespokemorethancommonfixednessofpurpose，thecauseofwhichwillbediscoveredinwhatfollows。

I。FROMTHECOUNTESSPAULINAOLIVERATOHERFRIENDANDCONFIDANTE，THELADYELSIEHOWARD。{1}

Scene:AsequesterednookintheValleyoftheFlowers。

CAMPCHAPARRAL，July6，188。

Thecountessisdiscoveredatherommerlu{1a}writing-table。A

lightzephyr{1b}playswithhergoldenlocks{1c}andcaressesherGrecian{1d}nose——anosethatcarriesonitssurfaceafewtriflingfreckles，whichservebuttocallattentiontoitsexquisitepurityofoutlineandtheheightofitsambition。Hereyesreflectthechangingshadowsofmoonlight，andhermouthisonefitforsweetsounds；{1e}yetthisonlygivesyouafaintideaofthebeauteouscreaturewhosefortunesweshallfollowinournextnumber。{1f}

Ihavegiventhatstyleafairtrial，mydeardarling，butIcannotstanditanotherminute，notbeingfamiliarwiththelanguageofwhatourcookusedtocallthe"fuddalaristocracy"(feudal，youknow)。

I，yourfaithfulPolly，amseatedinthecard-room，writingwithadreadfulpenwhichPhilgavemeyesterday。Itsinternalorgansarefilledwithink，whichitdisgorgeswhenPRESSEDtodoso，butjustnowitis"toofullforutterance，"asyouwillseebytheblots。

Wehavedecidednottomakethisarealround-robinletter，likethelast，becausewewanttowritewhatwelike，andnothaveitreadbythepersonwhocomesnext。

Ihavebeenbadgeredtodeathovermypartofthecommunicationsenttoyoulastweek，fortheyoungpersonsconnectedwiththiscamphaveafacultyofmakingmountainsoutofmole-hills，asyouknow，andI

havetosufferforeverycarelesslittlespeech。However，aswedidn"twishtoboreyouwithsixduplicateletters，weinventedaplanforkeepingoffeachother"sground，andappointedGeoffacommitteeofonetosettleourlineofmarch。Itistobeacollectiveletter，madeupofindividualnotes；andtheseareGeoff"ssealedorders，whichmustbeobeyed，onpainofdismissalfromthecamp:

No。1(Polly)istoamuse!

No。2(Phil)……inform!

No。3(Geoff)……edify!!

No。4(Madge)……gossip。

No。5(Bell)……versify。

No。6(Jack)……illustrateSo，mydear，ifyougetany"information"orhappentobe"edified"

bywhatIwrite，don"tmentionitforworlds!(IjustscreamedmyfearsaboutthismattertoJack，andhesays"Ineedn"tfret。"I

shallcertainlyslapthatboybeforethesummerisover。)

IcouldjusttellyoualovelystoryaboutDicky"sgettinglostinthewoodsthedaybeforeyesterday，andourterriblefrightabouthim，andhowwealljoinedintheboy-hunt，untilGeoffandBellfoundhimattheLoneStump；butIsupposethechroniclebelongstoPhil"sprovince，soIdesist。ButwhatcanIsay?SupposeItellyouthatUncleDocandtheboyshavebeenshootinginnocent，TAME

sheep，skinningandcuttingthemuponthewayhome，andmakingusbelievefortwodaysthatwewereeatingvenison；andwenevershouldhavediscoveredtheimpositionhadnotDickydraggedhomefoursheep-

skinsfromtheupperpool，andtoldusthathesawtheboys"PEELING

THEMOFFAVENISON。"PerhapsPhilmaycallthisinformation，andMargerywillvowthatitisgossipandbelongstoher；anyway，theyconsideritasplendidjoke，andchucklethemselvestosleepoveriteverynight；butIthinkthewholeaffairisperfectlymaddening，anditmakesmeboilwithragetobetakeninsoeasily。Suchato-doastheymakeoverthematteryouneversaw；youwouldthinkitwasthefirstsuccessfuljokesincetheDeluge。(Thatwasn"taDRYjoke，wasit?Ha，ha!)

Thisisthewaytheytwangontheirharpofathousandstrings。Atbreakfast，thismorning，whenJackpassedmethecorn-bread，Isaidinnocently，"Why，whathavewehere?""Itismannathatfellinthenight，"answeredJack，withanexasperatingsnicker。"Youdidn"tknowmutton，butIthought，beingaSunday-schoolteacher，youwouldknowsomethingaboutmanna。"(N。B——HealludestothattimeItooktheinfantclassforMissJones，andtheyallranouttoseeamilitaryfuneralprocession。)"Iwishyouknewsomethingaboutmanners，"snappedI；andthenAuntTruthhadtowarnusboth，asusual。Ohdear!it"sawearyworld。I"djustliketogetJackatadisadvantageonce!

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WeclimbedPicoNegroyesterday。Bell，Geoff，Phil，andIhadquiteanexperienceinlosingthetrail。Iwilltellyouaboutit。Justas-

(Goodnessme!whathaveIwritten?Oh，Elsie，prayexcusethoseHORIZONTALEVIDENCESofmyforgetfulnessanddisobedience。Ihavebumpedmyheadagainstthetablethreetimes，aspenance，andwillnowtrytoturnmythoughtsintorightchannels。Thisletterisablack-and-whiteevidencethat_I_havenotafrivolousorderofmind，andhavealwaysbeenmisunderstoodfrommybirthuptothisdate。)

Wehavehadbeautifulweathersince——butno，ofcoursePhilwilltellyouabouttheweather，forthatisscarcelyanamusingtopic。Idowanttobeasprudentaspossible，forUncleDocisgoingtoreadalltheletters(not，ofcourse，aloud)andseewhetherwehavefulfilledourspecificobligations。

(IjustaskedBellwhether"specific"hada"c"oran"sinthemiddle，andsheanswered""c，"ofcourse，"withsuchanair，youshouldhaveheardher!Ihadtoremindherofthetimeshespelled"Tophet"withan"f"inthemiddle；thenshesubsided。)

(IjustreadthislastparagraphtoMadge，toseeifshecalleditgossip，asIwasgoingtotakeitoutifitbelongedtohertopic，butshesaidNo，shedidn"tcallitgossipatall——thatsheshouldcallitslander!)

Youdon"tknowhowwealllongtoseeyou，deardarlingthatyouare。

Weliveinthehopeofhavingyouwithusverysoon，andmeanwhilethebeautifulbedsteadisalmostfinished，andaperfectsuccess。(I

wishtowithdrawthelastthreequartersofthatsentence，forobviousreasons!!)

Dear，dear!Geoffreycalls"Timeup，"andI"vescarcelysaidanythingIshould。Never，neveragainwillIsubmittothismethodofcorrespondence；itisabsolutelypetrifyingtoone"sgenius。WhenIamonceforcedtowalkinapath，nothingbutthewholeout-of-

doorswillsatisfyme。

I"mverymuchafraidIhaven"tamusedyou，dear，-

ButwhenIlieinthegreenkirkyard，Withthemoulduponmybreast，Saynotthat"Shedidwellorill，"

Only，"Shedidherbest。"

Now，doyouthinkthatwillinterferewithBell，whenit"sonlyaquotation?Anyway，it"ssoappropriatethatUncleDocwillneverhavethehearttostrikeitout。ThetroubleisthatGeoffthinksallthepoetryintheuniverseislockedupinBell"shead，andifsheonceallowsittoescape，FeliciaHemansandtherestwillbetoodiscouragedevertotryagain!(Ican"trememberwhetherF。H。isaliveornot，andamafraidtoask，butyouwillknowthatIdon"tmeantobedisrespectful。)