a corset again.

_Aggie_ (_sneezing_): Why? Didn't the Iddiads wear theb?

Tish is very sensitive to lack of sympathy and she shut up like a clam.
She was coldly polite to us for the remainder of our visit, but she did
not again refer to the Indians, which in itself was suspicious.

Fortunately for us, or unfortunately, Tish's new scheme was one she
could not very well carry out alone. I believe she tried to induce
Hannah to go with her, and only when Hannah failed her did she turn to
us. Hannah was frightened and came to warn us.

I remember the occasion very well. It was Mr. Wiggins's birthday
anniversary, and we usually dine at Aggie's and have a cake with thirty
candles on it. Tish was not yet able to be about, so Aggie and I ate
together. She always likes to sit until the last candle is burned out,
which is rather dispiriting and always leaves me low in my mind.

Just as it flickered and went out, Hannah came in.

"Miss Tish sent over Mr. Charlie's letter from London," said Hannah, and
put it in front of Aggie. Then she sat down on a chair and commenced to
cry.

"Why, Hannah!" said Aggie. "What in the world has happened?"

"She's off again!" sniveled Hannah; "and she's worse this time than she's
ever been. No sugar, no tea, only nuts and fruit, and her windows open
all night, with the curtains getting black. I wisht I had Mr. Charlie by
the neck."

I suppose it came over both of us at the same time--the "Young
Woodsman," and the "Camper Craft," and no stays, and all that. I reached
for Charlie Sands's letter, which was always sent to Tish and meant for
all of us. He wrote:--

_Dear Three of a Kind_: Well, the French President has came and went,
and London has taken down all the brilliant flags which greeted him,
such tactful bits as bore Cressy and Agincourt, and the pretty little
smallpox and "plague here" banners, and has gone back to such innocent
diversions as baiting cabinet ministers, blowing up public buildings, or
going out into the woods seeking the Simple Life.

The Simple Lifers travel in bands--and little else. They go barefooted,
barearmed, bareheaded and barenecked. They wear one garment, I believe,
let their hair hang and their beards grow, eat only what Nature
provides, such as nuts and fruits, sleep under the stars, and drink
from Nature's pools. Rather bully, isn't it? They're a handsome lot
generally, brown as nuts. And I saw a girl yesterday--well, if you