第6章
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!"