s and a long
pole, and Mr. Bering with coat off, fell to work with a will and such
speed, that in ten minutes, a small raft lay in the water, and Mr.
Dering was making preparations for his voyage, by pulling off his boots
and tucking his pants up.

"You don't suppose you could get drowned, do you papa," questioned Jean,
somewhat overcome with these unusual proceedings, and clinging to her
seat in a low willow with some trepidation.

"Not much, little one. I guess if Katty can wade out of this water, papa
can, providing he's tipped in. Now good-bye, girls. Wish me well."

Kittie in the willow, and Bea and Ernestine on a log, gave three parting
cheers with such force, that Kat, crying forlornly up in her room, ran
to the window to see the fun, and watched with great interest the rescue
of the "Water Rat," which Mr. Dering effected with great skill and many
flourishes, to the delight of his audience. After being pulled out on
the grass, face up again to dry, the rescued "Rat" was left to the
twilight, while the party returned to the house.

The new arrangements had been in hand about a week, and so far, the
girls were delighted and enthusiastic over "helping," though they did
miss "Prince" and the buggy very much. As Mrs. Dering had said, papa
decidedly objected to any such arrangements and privations, but one man
against seven determined women!--oh, my! just think of it! So they had
their way, and it was such a comfort to see, that already he began to
look a little less worried and anxious when out of the store.

That night, when the girls went to bed, Kat was very much subdued, and
kept her face quite persistently out of sight. Kittie administered
comfort in broken and complete doses, but without much effect, for just
now, when under the new enthusiasm, every one was doing her best in all
ways, Kat felt her disgrace, more deeply than was customary for her, who
fell into it, and out again pretty nearly every day, and so she refused
to be comforted. Perhaps there was another reason for the complete and
deep contrition. At any rate, she whispered to Kittie with a choke, that
fought against being a sob,--before they went to sleep; "Oh, Kittie!--I
can't go--go, nutting!"

Sure enough. Kat ate her breakfast with red eyes and a poor appetite the
next morning, while the sun shone, as it surely never did before, and
Kittie gayly laughed and chatted, but trying to be not too happy, as was
consistent with the deep sympathy fe