\'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\'dgivefivehundreddollarss\'posin\'Ihadacenttoseethatyoungstersafeagain。\'
\'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。1Pollyistoamuse!
No。2Phil……inform!
No。3Geoff……edify!!
No。4Madge……gossip。
No。5Bell……versify。
No。6Jack……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，forUncleDocisgoingtoreadallthelettersnot，ofcourse，aloudandseewhetherwehavefulfilledourspecificobligations。
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。