ry pleasant, but I cannot either go or stay unless
he does; for I am quite resolved to spend every one of the few days he
will be here, close at his side."

"And as all the rest of us desire the pleasure of his company," said
her mother, "his decision must guide ours."

"There, now, captain," cried Betty, "you see it all rests with you; so
please say yes, and let us begin our preparations."

"Yes, Miss Betty; I certainly cannot be so gallant as to refuse such a
request from such a quarter, especially when I see that all interested
in the decision hope I will not."

That settled the matter. Preparations were at once set on foot: the
young men started in search of the necessary conveyances, the ladies
ordered the provisions, inquiries were made in regard to different
localities, and a spot on the banks of Sachacha Pond, where stood a
small deserted old house, was selected as their objective point.

They started directly after breakfast, and had a delightful drive over
the moors and fenceless fields, around the hills and tiny emerald lakes
bordered with beautiful wild shrubbery, bright with golden rod, wild
roses, and field lilies. Here and there among the heather grew creeping
mealberry vines, with bright red fruit-like beads, and huckleberry
bushes that tempted our pleasure-seekers to alight again and again to
gather and eat of their fruit.

Everybody was in most amiable mood, and the male members of the party
indulgently assisted the ladies, and lifted the children in and out
that they might gather floral treasures for themselves, or alighted to
gather for them again and again.

At length they reached their destination, left their conveyances, spread
an awning above the green grass that grew luxuriantly about the old
house, deposited their baskets of provisions and extra wraps underneath
it, put the horses into a barn near at hand, and strolled down to the
pond.

A whaleboat, large enough to hold the entire company, was presently
hired; all embarked; it moved slowly out into the lake; all who cared to
fish were supplied with tackle and bait, and the sport began.

Elsie, Violet, and Grace declined to take part in it, but Zoe, Betty,
and Lulu were very eager and excited, sending forth shouts of triumph or
of merriment as they drew one victim after another from the water; for
the fish seemed eager to take the bait, and were caught in such numbers
that soon the word was given that quite enough were now on hand, an