The Three Midshipmen

at near, watching her as she worked. Olga did it as she did most things, with taste and skill, b

omised Miss Grandis to embroider it. She gave

of our law, you know, to seek beauty, and wherever possible, create it." She

on a sudden impulse, Laura spoke again. "Elizabeth, the cook is short of helpers this morning, and I've

lga will be glad to have her away for a little while,

peas were delicious. But as the two worked, the great pile of pods grew steadily smaller, and finally Laura looked at Elizabet

ed over the girl's face. "I'm used to this kind of work. You have

questioned, and added to herself, "No w

ow she had penetrated a little way into the shell of silence and reserve. As they w

lizabeth. May I call on you

en the girl slipped back i

h something odd and inscrutable in her dark eyes, and there was a question in the look w

Poor Thing with a new hopefulness, telling

e was so quick to respond! I'm almost afraid to hope, but maybe I've had an

ith the dishes. "It's my day to work in the kitchen," Bessie told her, "and Miss Laura thought you

," replied Eliz

because she seemed so lonesome and 'out of it,' don't you know? But I like her now, she was so willi

und the key. "Elizabeth loves t

ing-deep down in the starved little heart of her-while Olga-with Olga it is the other. She 'glorifies work' because 'through w

t about Olga. It has always seemed to me tha

said Laura, her voice full of deep feeling. "O Anne, I so long to help that poor

thing in life already," Anne remi

nconsciously her dark brows came together in a frown. Elizabeth had gone with scarcely a glance at her. A week-two weeks earlier, she would have hung back and refused. Olga shook her head imp

half shy, half exultant, and she did not say a word about what Miss Laura had wanted he

ore she returned, and as before she came back with a shining something in her eyes-a something that chan

it went on day after day. Olga always knew where Elizabeth was except for that one hour in the morning, which was never mentioned between them. The other times she was always helping some one-darning stockings for Louise Johnson-Elizabeth knew how to darn stockings-or helping little Bessie Carroll hunt for some of her belongings, which she was always losing, or helping Katie the cook, who declared that nobody

l detained the girls for a moment

ortheast wind-and have your rubber blankets and overshoes handy. Guardians will examine all tent-pins and ropes and see that everything is secure. No tent-sides up to-night, of course. I shall have a fire here, and lanterns burning all night; so if anything i

her. Only Louise Johnson, her mouth full of mint gum, gaily protested that it was all nonsense.

r gym. suits you can, but excuse me!" she sa

your things soaked, or blown into the bay before morning," Mary Hastings

te and wafers, and then the girls went to their tents. By that time the sky was covered with a murk of black clouds, and a penetrating wind was blowing up the bay and whistling through the grove. Extra blankets had been put over the cots and rubber blankets over all, and the girls were quite willing to pul

nt, low growling thunder, and after a little it died away. The girls, under their wool covering

g across the black cloud masses, and the whistling of the wind deepened to a steady ominous growl. Tent ropes creaked under the strain of the heavy blasts; trees writhed and twisted, and the rain came in gusts, swift, spite

when the flashes come," Anne said, "but

sure to be frightene

l this tumult," Laura said. "I wi

were going to have such a storm as this," Mrs. Royall said anxiously. "If it doesn't le

d immediately by a blinding flash of lightning that zigzagged ac

aught a glimpse, in the glare of the lightning, of A

th!" Annie whimpered, her teeth

her steady voice quieted Annie for the moment. "If it does, we must make

ary's. She turned towards the next cot and added, "Elizabeth, you've

lizabeth, with a li

was sobbing and moaning, "O, I wi

nnie Pearson, if you don't stop

as a lull, and after a moment, Mary added hopefully, "

by a long, loud rattling peal ending in a terrific crash that seemed fairly to rend the heavens, while the wind shook the tents as if giant hands were trying to wrest them from their fastenings. Then from all over the camp arose frighte

over, but nobody's hurt. Mary Hastings, slip on

es remained, and over these the rain was pouring in heavy, blinding sheets. Mrs. Royall, as wet as if she had just come out of the bay, was holding up a lantern, by the ligh

om, "And you take the rest of it," she added to another girl, who had followed Mary. "And stay

b of frightened cries. Pushing aside the canvas curtain she stepped inside the tent, and holding up her lantern, looked abou

hasn't blown over. What are you cryi

she sobbed, "something came in-right up on my bed. It was big and-and furry-and wet! O Mr

nd the tent, then-wet and cold and worried as

ox. That must be the wet, furry

hed there in deadly terror. One glance, and three of the girls broke into shrieks of nervous laughter in which, after a moment, Rose joined. And having begun to laugh the

the thunder is fainter now, and the lightning less sharp.

one, and at that a fresh peal of laughter rang out

go until you are quiet. I'll take this half-drowned rabbit"-she reached over and picked up the trembling

Rue promised, her lips twitching agai

ood the gale, and when Mrs. Royall had looked into each one, answered the eager questions of the girls, and assured them that no one was hurt and the worst of the storm was over, she hurried ba

as toast," An

Hastings said, again slipping on her raincoat, while Lau

to sleep with cold feet. And thank you both for your help," she added. "I'll hold the lantern here at the door s

quiet voice questioned, as

all over and the storm will be soon. L

that Elizabeth had left her cot. "Why did you go?" she as

nswered, squeezing the hand tha

ell, but not so heavily, and the roar of the wind had died down to a sullen growl. In ten minutes the other three girls were sound asleep, but Ol