prisoner, and behave as she expected the Fosters to
behave? By the time she reached her own house she was ashamed of what
she had said. Miss Leicester was at that moment telling Betty that she
was astonished at such bitter feeling in their young neighbor. "She has
never really thought about it. I dare say she only needs a sensible word
or two to change her mind. You children have such tremendous opinions,"
and Aunt Barbara smiled.

"Once when I was staying in the Isle of Wight," said Betty, "I belonged
to such a nice out-of-door club, Aunt Barbara."

"Did you? What was it like?"

"Oh, not really like anything that I can think of, only we had great fun
together. We used to walk miles and miles, and carry some buns or buy
them, and get milk or ginger-beer at the farms. There are so many ruins
to go to see, and old churches, and homes of eminent persons of the time
of Elizabeth, and we would read from their works; and it was so pleasant
coming home by the foot-paths afterward," announced Betty with
satisfaction. "The governesses used to go, too, but we could outrun all
but one of them, the Barry's, and my Miss Winter, who was as dear as
could be. I had my lessons with the Duncans, you know. Oh, it was such
fun!--the others would let us go on as fast as we liked, and come poking
along together, and have their own quiet pleasures." Betty was much
diverted with her recollections. "I mean to begin an out-of-door club
here, Aunt Barbara."

"In my time," said Aunt Barbara, "girls were expected to know how to
sew, and to learn to be good housekeepers."

"You would join the club, wouldn't you?" asked Betty anxiously.

"And be run away from, like the stout governesses, I dare say."

There was an attempt at a serious expression, but Miss Leicester could
not help laughing a little. Down came Miss Mary at this moment, with
Letty behind her, carrying cushions, and Betty sprang up to help make
the couch ready.

"I wish that you would belong, too, and come with us on wheels," said
she, returning to the subject that had been interrupted. "You could
drive to the meetings and be head-member, Aunt Mary." But Aunt Mary was
tired that day, and wished to have no demands made upon her. There were
days when Betty had a plan for every half-hour, remarked Aunt Barbara
indulgently.

"Suppose you come out to the garden with me to pick some raspberries?"
and Betty was quietly removed from the weak nerves of Aunt Mary, who
plaintively said t