to offer marriage to a young lady in your
charge? But what are you going to do about it? I think it very likely he
will come to this camp, and he may speak to you."

"In that case I shall have him driven out," said Mr. Archibald, "as if he
were a drunken vagabond. Personally I shall have nothing to do with him,
but I shall order my guides to eject him."

"I hope that may not be necessary," said his wife. "It would make bad
feeling, and deeply wound his sister, for it would be the same thing as
putting her out. She talks too much, to be sure, but she is a lady, and
has treated us all very courteously. I wish we could get through the rest
of our stay here without any disturbance or bad feeling."

"I wish so too, with all my heart," said her husband. "And the only thing
necessary to that end is that that ass Raybold shall keep out of my
sight."

It was about two o'clock that afternoon, and Mrs. Archibald, under her
tree, her basket of stockings all darned and her novel at its culminating
point of interest, was the only visible occupant of Camp Rob, when Corona
Raybold came walking towards her, an obvious purpose in her handsome face,
which was somewhat flushed by exercise.

"I do not think," she said, as soon as she was near enough for Mrs.
Archibald to hear her, "that the true purpose and intention of our plan is
properly understood by all of the party. I think, after some explanation,
everything will go well, but I have been endeavoring for the last
half-hour to find Mrs. Perkenpine, and have utterly failed. I am very
hungry, but I can discover nothing to eat. All our stores appear to be
absolutely raw, or in some intermediate state of crudity. I intend to
order some provisions in cans or boxes which will be at all times
available, but I have not done so yet, and so I have come over to speak to
you about the matter. Did your guides prepare your dinner as usual?"

"Oh yes," said Mrs. Archibald. "A hermit life seems to make no difference
with Mr. Matlack. We become associates at meal-times, but, as you see, we
have separated again."

"I must instil into Mrs. Perkenpine's mind," said Corona, "that, in order
thoroughly to act out her own nature, she must cook and do other things of
a domestic character. Of course she will do those things in her own way;
that is to be expected; but she must do them. It is impossible to imagine
a woman of her class whose soul is not set more or less upon domestic
affairs. I will instan