getting ready to start had been trying on all of them. Then the humor of the si

back home at once! Mamma will be dr

too," li

k wit oo, Moll

dears!" mu

the way back with them," exclaimed the sis

eing, doubtless, a chance to ma

! The

l, cunningly, seeing the drift of his s

go back," spoke Grace, making a motion t

ll insist on their going back. And oh! what faces they hav

oke Dodo. "Oo dive us ta

ly she looked up int

here was an air of determination abou

back!" decl

em," and proudly she displayed a very dirty bag, the opening of which dis

ion could be seen to somewhat resemble a musket. "Gun go bang-bang!" explained the little chap, "bad bears run 'way off.

you bad children! What shall I do? Mamma will be dreadfully worried, and

ndy," spoke the inexorable Dodo.

aid Paul

Grace, in a low voice, but, low as it was, the twins heard.

ffirmed Mollie. "Will you go straight back if you g

who usually led her small brother

is tandy?" With him evidently the prospect of present enjoyment w

me chocolates. "Now be good children. Do you th

o go with them? Oh, isn't this annoying, and we're behind tim

" mocked Will, who, with his chums, had bee

. Here, Frank-Allen-you see that he performs his part of the contract," and s

Will and Frank bade the girls good-speed and led away the two small one

rmured Mollie. "I'm so s

just a little pleasant episode, and

s late," suggested

fault, anyhow. We can just walk a little faster to mak

nt. "I'm not as comfortable as you, perhaps," she admitted, "but I will be when I get my other shoe

The day was one of those balmy ones in June, when it is neither too hot nor too blowy, when the breeze se

n and out among great maples that formed a leafy shade which might be most accep

ugh start having been made to all

we don't want to tire ourselves out on the first stage of our trip

going to be ath

y of you feel like resting at any time, don't hesitate to say so. We w

ts. The sight of a cow placidly chewing her cud in a meadow, the patient creature standing knee-deep amid the buttercups, was a picture they all admired, Mo

ovely enlargement," said Mollie.

least, all but Grace trod firmly, and she rather favored herself on a

e women and girls of the household, standing with rolled-up sleeve

ents, too, not

her daughter, as they paused in their work of was

s for peddle

playing horse in front of his house, scut

an' see the

d Betty. "What will w

he girls that they wondered why they had not before th

and they were fortunate in that their way still lay in pleasant places. They came to a little brook that ran under the road, and not far from it

" asked Grace, as the ever-mou

gry already?

the pangs," admitted t

e eaten much candy,

three

eforming!" cheered

me," Grace said, as she pouted. "I'm sure y

will eat soon, for I confess to hav

her than go to some restaurant, country hotel, or stop at a chance farm house, the girls had

tree to partake of their hay and oats. "It must be noon by that sign," went on the Little Captain, confirming her guess by a glance at

iful spring of water he

we ma

'm just dying for a good h

sandwiches were set out, with a bottle of olives to add to the attractiveness, and then the little ket

ly announced Betty. "

my

culated it around in the cup, until one fragrant brew was made

as she tasted it, cream and sugar having

ce. "I wouldn't have mi

n, as Betty, after a look at her watch, warned them that the better

time-worn sign-post bore letters that could scarcely be made out, and, though they had a road map, the girls were not quite sure which

Rockford, pleas

iously. "G'lang there!" This last

d to the right," murmured Betty, a

insisted Grace. "We'll tak

were destined to disappointment. In blissful ignorance they trudged on, talking so inter

he farmer had caused them to make. Again coming to a dividing of the way

n, and ten to Denby," r

kfo

hey stared

ay anything about Roc

ved our town," sugges

A snub-nosed, freckle-faced boy came along whistling

to Rockford, little

uh

is the road

ave any left, Grace," sugg

' candy?" asked the bo

answered Betty. "We wa

oy, with a grin, as though he took personal delig

ollie. "Don't you give

lt that we went w