he sprang to her aid, cried, "Away! away!
You took her from me in life: she is mine in death."

"I beg pardon--" politely began his lordship, but was interrupted by
Mrs. Muff, Alicia's chaperon, who calmly ordered Golightly to stop his
noise, and help Mr. Hopkins carry her charge to the arbor.

"Oh, what shall we do?" groaned Golightly, beating his brow with his
hand.

"Do," repeated Mrs. Muff; "why, send for a porous plaster. Here,
Skipjack, run to Dr. Pine as fast as you can, and fetch me one."

In a moment he was back with it, and Mrs. Muff quickly clapped it upon
Alicia's head. Ellie looked on with breathless interest, and soon Alicia
slowly opened her eyes, and looking up, said, in a soft voice, "Dear
Golightly!"

Mrs. Muff skillfully jerked off the plaster, and Ellie saw the teeth of
the comb sticking to it.

"Bless my soul! it's the most extraordinary thing," cried his lordship.

"Oh, that's nothing," replied Mrs. Muff; "I always use them when my
children are teething, with great success. But where is Matilda?"

"The poor girl was terribly cut up, you know, and ran away toward the
woods," answered Lord Lepus. "How does the charming Alicia find herself?
Well enough to join us, I hope."

"She must rest awhile. A short nap will entirely restore her," said Mrs.
Muff.

At that moment Mr. Hopkins put his head in the arbor, and announced
supper was served.

"Now," said Mrs. Muff, "while you are at supper Alicia shall go to
sleep, and I will watch her."

Ellie looked out, and saw a table spread on the croquet ground. "Well,
well, how quick rabbits are! I wonder what they have to eat;" and she
ran along with the rest of the party to find out. The table was loaded
with nice things--apples and celery in abundance, and piles and piles of
popped corn. Lord Lepus had never seen any before, and was so much
pleased with it, Mr. Hopkins ordered a waiter to fill a bag and give it
to his lordship when he left. "How strange," thought Ellie; "mamma says
it is very impolite to carry away anything to eat when you go to
parties. But perhaps it is different with rabbits."

When they had finished supper, Mr. Cawkins and son--the band--came
flapping down and picked up everything that was on the table. "I suppose
that playing makes them hungry," thought Ellie; "but how fast they do
eat!"

When the last kernel of popped corn had disappeared, the crows flew back
to their perch and began to play the liveliest, merriest tune