as they stood looking over the
glowing lake. "See, there's a splendid, big purple cloud with a golden
edge for you, Uncle, and those two little ones alongside are for Don and
me. Oh!" she laughed, clapping her hands, "they're twins, Don, like
ourselves; what a nice time they're having together! Now they are
separating--farther and farther apart--and yours is breaking up too,
Uncle. Well, I _do_ declare," she added, suddenly turning to look at her
companions, "I never saw such a pair of doleful faces in all my life!"

"In _all_ your life?" echoed her uncle, trying to laugh carelessly, and
wishing to divert her attention from Donald.

"Yes, in all my life--all _our_ life I might say--and it isn't such a
very short life either. I've learned ever so many things in it, I'd have
you know, and not all of them from school-books, by any means."

"Well, what have you learned, my girl?"

"Why, as if I could tell it all in a minute! It would take a year. I'll
tell you _one_ thing, though, that I've found out for certain" (dropping
a little courtesy): "I've the very dearest brother ever a girl had, and
the best uncle in the whole United States."

With these words, Dorothy, raising herself on tiptoe, smilingly caught
her uncle's face with both hands and kissed him.

"Now, Don," she added, "what say you to a race to the front gate before
supper? Watch can try, too, and Uncle shall see which--Why, where is
Don? When did he run off?"

"I'll find him," said Uncle George, passing her quickly and reaching his
study before Dorry had recovered from her surprise. He had seen Donald
hasten into the house, unable to restrain the feelings called up by
Dorry's allusion to the clouds, and now he, too, could bear her
unsuspecting playfulness no longer.

Dorry stood a few seconds, half puzzled, half amused at their sudden
desertion of her, when sounds of approaching wheels caught her
attention. Turning, she saw Josie Manning coming toward the house, in an
open carriage driven by Mr. Michael McSwiver.

"Oh, Dorothy!" Josie called out, before Michael had brought the fine
gray horse to a halt, "can you come and take supper with me? I have
driven over on purpose, and I've some beautiful new lichens at home to
show you. Six of us G-B-C girls went out moss-hunting before the shower.
So sorry you were not with us!"

"Oh, I don't think I can," hesitated Dorry. "Donald and I have been away
all day. Can't you stay here instead?"

"_Im_-possible,"