Betty and Becky were soon at work making their
camp, and the novices took their first lesson in woodcraft. The young
men, Harry Foster and Seth, came ashore bringing the tender loaded deep
with tents and blankets, some of them from Jonathan's carefully kept
chests in the carriage-house, and Miss Leicester wondered again how
anybody had contrived to get so many things from the house to the boat
without her knowledge. There were two sharp hatchets, and presently Seth
and Harry were dispatched to gather some dry wood for the fire, though
until near evening the tents need not be put up nor the last
arrangements made for sleeping. By and by everybody could help either to
cut or carry hemlock and spruce boughs for the beds.

Betty helped her father to roll some stones together for a fireplace
just at the edge of the river beach, and pleased him very much by
rolling a heavy one up to the top of the heap on a piece of board which
had washed ashore, just as she had seen farmers do in building a stone
wall. Mary Beck, in a trepidation of delight, was helping Miss Barbara
Leicester unpack the baskets, to see what should be eaten for dinner
and what should be kept for future meals, when Mr. Leicester called
them.

"Aunt Barbara," he proclaimed, "I am not going to let you keep tent; you
only know how to keep house; and beside, you mustn't do what you always
do at home. Let the girls manage dinner and you come with me, now that
the fire is started. I have thought of an errand."

Miss Leicester meekly obeyed; she was ready for anything, having once
cast off, as she said, all obligation to society, and with a few parting
charges to Betty about the provisions she disappeared among the pines
with her nephew.

"Isn't it fun?" said Mary Beck, and she put on such a comical face when
Betty sedately quoted,

"What is that, mother?
A lark, my child,"

that Betty fell into a fit of laughter, and Becky caught it, and they
were gasping for breath before they could stop. "Oh, think of Aunt
Barbara camping out and setting herself up for a gypsy!" said Betty.
"This is just the way papa does now and then. I always told you so,
didn't I?--only you never know when to watch for his tricks. He doesn't
always catch me like this, I can tell you. Think of Aunt Barbara! I hope
the dear thing will pass a good night; she isn't a bit older than we are
in her dear heart. How will she ever have the face to walk into churc