o be a delicious summer--I feel it in my bones."

"Be-atrice!"

"Why, mama? Aren't young ladies supposed to have bones?"

"Young ladies are not supposed to make use of unrefined expressions.
Your poor sister."

"There, mama. Dear Dolly didn't live upon stilts, I'm sure. Even when
she married."

"Be-atrice!"

"Dear me, mama! I hope you are not growing peevish. Peevish elderly
people--"

"Auntie! I want to go home!" the small boy wailed.

"You cannot go home now, dear," sighed his guardian angel. "Look at the
pretty--" She hesitated, groping vaguely for some object to which she
might conscientiously apply the adjective.

"Mud," suggested Beatrice promptly "Look at the wheels, Dorman; they're
playing patty-cake. See, now they say, 'Roll 'em, and roll 'em,' and
now, 'Toss in the oven to bake!' And now--"

"Auntie, I want to get out an' play patty-cake, like de wheels. I want
to awf'lly!"

"Beatrice, why did you put that into his head?" her mother demanded,
fretfully.

"Never mind, honey," called Beatrice cheeringly. "You and I will make
hundreds of mud pies when we get to Uncle Dick's ranch. Just think, hon,
oodles of beautiful, yellow mud just beside the door!"

"Look here, Trix! Seems to me you're promising a whole lot you can't
make good. I don't live in a 'dobe patch."

"Hush, Dick; don't spoil everything. You don't know Dorman.'

"Beatrice! What must Miss Hayes and Sir Redmond think of you? I'm sure
Dorman is a sweet child, the image of poor, dear Dorothea, at his age."

"We all think Dorman bears a strong resemblance to his father," said his
Aunt Mary.

Beatrice, scenting trouble, hurried to change the subject. "What's this,
Dick--the Missouri River?"

"Hardly. This is the water that didn't fall in the buggy. It isn't deep;
it makes bad going worse, that's all."

Thinking to expedite matters, he struck Hawk sharply across the flank.
It was a foolish thing to do, and Dick knew it when he did it; ten
seconds later he knew it better.

Hawk reared, tired as he was, and lunged viciously.

The double-trees snapped and splintered; there was a brief interval
of plunging, a shower of muddy water in that vicinity, and then two
draggled, disgusted brown horses splashed indignantly to shore and took
to the hills with straps flying.

"By George!" ejaculated Sir Redmond, gazing helplessly after them. "But
this is a beastly bit of luck, don't you know!"

"Oh, you Hawk--" Dick, in consideration of his c