ing at the praise. "We'll
come out every day," he added slipping into his jacket, and turning
enthusiastically back to Van.

"And perhaps he could have pitched into the Burglars," finished Van,
ignoring the invitation, and tumbling into his jacket with alarming
speed.

"I know I could!" cried Joel, scampering after him into the house. "If
I'd only a-been here!"

"Where's Ben?" said Van, bounding into the hall, and flinging himself
down on one of the chairs. "Oh dear, I'm so hot! Say, Joe, where do you
s'pose Ben is?"

"I don't know," replied Joel, who didn't even puff.

"I saw him a little while ago with master Percy," said Jane, who was
going through the hall.

"There now! and they've gone off somewhere," cried Van in extreme
irritation, and starting up quickly. "I know they have. Which way did
they go, Jane? And how long ago?"

"Oh, I don't know," replied Jane carelessly, "half an hour maybe; and
they didn't go nowhere as I see, at least they were talking at the door,
and I was going up-stairs."

"Right here?" cried Van, and stamping with his foot to point out the
exact place; "at this door, Jane?"

"Yes, yes," said Jane; "at that very door," and then she went into the
dining-room to her work.

"Oh dear me!" cried Van, and flying out on the veranda, he began to peer
wildly up and down the drive. "And they've gone to some splendid
place, I know, and wouldn't tell us. That's just like Percy!" he added
vindictively, "he's always stealing away! don't you see 'em, Joel? oh,
do come out and look!"

"'Tisn't any use," said Joel coolly, sitting down on the chair Van had
just vacated, and swinging his feet comfortably; "they're miles away if
they've been gone half an hour. I'm goin' up-stairs," and he sprang up,
and energetically pranced to the stairs.

"They aren't up-stairs!" screamed Van, in scorn, bounding into the hall.
"Don't go; I know that they've gone down to the museum!"

"The what?" exclaimed Joel, nearly at the top, peering over the railing.
"What's that you said--what is it?"

"A museum," shouted Van, "and it's a perfectly elegant place, Joel
Pepper, and Percy knows I like to go; and now he's taken Ben off;
and he'll show him all the things! and they'll all be old when I take
him--and--and--oh! I hope the snakes will bite him!" he added, trying to
think of something bad enough.

"Do they have snakes there?" asked Joel, staring.

"Yes, they do," snapped out Van. "They have everything!"

"Wel