ry tired? No?
that is good! Well, but you must be hungry, I am sure. There are
doughnuts and milk on the table; or if you would rather have tea--"

"They are not hungry, Miranda!" said Mr. Merryweather. "They cannot be
hungry at three o'clock. Dined at Wayport, Ferrers? Of course! Jack,
show your uncle his tent! Miss Montfort--"

"I'll show them the way, Papa!" said Gertrude. "Where is Bell, Mammy?
Oh, there she is! Bell, here are Margaret and Peggy; girls, this is
Bell!"

Bell Merryweather, a sturdy, blue-eyed girl with the general aspect of a
snow apple, greeted the guests with a hearty shake of a powerful hand,
and a cordial smile.

"We have been looking forward so to your coming!" she said. "Don't you
want to come out to your tent? Here, I'll take your bag, Margaret; shall
I say 'Margaret' at once? it will be so much nicer. This way!"

She led the way, Margaret following, Gertrude and Peggy after them,
still talking eagerly. A row of flagstones led past the boat-house, and
on under solemn pines and feathery birches to where a line of tents
stood facing the water.

"Here is yours," said Bell; "next to ours, this big one; we are three,
you see. Yours is small, but I hope you can be comfortable."

"Comfortable!" echoed Peggy; "I should think so! Oh, Margaret, do look!
how perfect everything is! Oh, what ducky beds! the red blankets are
just like home; our boys have red blankets. Oh, I shall be perfectly
happy here!"

Margaret, accustomed to the wide spaces and ample closets of Fernley
House, was a little bewildered at the first glance around her. The tent
was hardly bigger than the stateroom of a moderate-sized steamer. Could
two persons live here in anything approaching comfort? A second glance
showed her how compactly and conveniently everything was arranged. The
narrow cots, with their scarlet blankets and blue check pillows,
stood on either side; between them was a table, with blotter of birch
bark, and an inkstand made by hollowing out a quaintly shaped piece of
wood and sinking in the hollow a small glass tumbler. Above the head of
each bed hung a long shoe-bag with many pockets, while opposite the foot
were rows of hooks for dresses, a shelf on which stood pitcher, basin,
etc., and a chest of drawers. All was fresh, neat, and tidy.

"Yes, I am sure we shall be happy!" said Margaret, repeating Peggy's
words.

"Here is the hook for your lantern," said Bell. "Here is a little jar
for crackers, but be s