my house, so you could be in the plan, it would
n't be of any use, for it would be just like you to get afraid as soon
as it was dark, and then you would cry and want to go back into the
house."

"I am afraid I would," Ruthy answered meekly, not resenting the
accusation of cowardice. "I should think you would be afraid too,
Ruby; and then what will your papa and mamma think when they find out
in the night that you are gone."

"They won't find out," answered Ruby, easily disposing of that
objection. "You see I shall wait till after they think I have gone to
sleep to go out to my hut. I will get most undressed to-night at
bed-time and then put my nightie on over the rest of my clothes, and
when papa comes in to kiss me good-night he will never think of my
getting up again. Then I will creep downstairs as softly as a mouse,
and out into the yard. It will be such fun to roll up in the blankets,
and pretend that they are the skins of wild animals, and I shall lie
awake for ever so long listening to hear if any bears come around, or
lions. Oh, it will be such fun," and Ruby's eyes sparkled. Ruthy
looked troubled.

"I don't think it will be a bit nice," she said presently. "I don't
believe your mamma would like it one single bit; and suppose somebody
should carry you off when you are out there all by yourself."

"You just can't make me afraid, I guess, Ruthy Warren," sniffed Ruby,
scornfully. "You are such a 'fraid-cat that you never want to do
anything in all your life but play paper dolls. I might have known you
would n't see what fun it is to play Swiss Family Robinson. Now don't
you dare tell any one a single word about it. Remember you promised
across your heart."

"I sha'n't tell," Ruthy answered, "but I do wish you would n't do it,
Ruby. Why, I shall be as scared as anything if I wake up in the night
and think that you are out there in your house all alone in the pitch
dark. I should be so frightened if I was you that I would just scream
and scream till some one heard me and came and got me."

"I would n't have such a baby as you to stay with me," Ruby said. "I
am going to do it just as sure as anything, Ruthy Warren, and if you
breathe a word of it to any one so I don't get let to do it, I will
never, never speak to you again as long as I live and breathe."

"Of course I sha'n't tell when I promised," Ruthy replied, a little
hurt at Ruby's doubting her word. "Maybe you won't do it after all,
t