The Merryweathers

ant. Merryweather, you are a lucky dog!" As he spoke,

ith the Colonel and his nephew, made a party of twelve, and filled the table comfortably, though there was still room for more. The room was a long one, with a vast open fireplace stretching half across one side. At one end were rows of book-shelves, filled to overflowi

the life. It's good for young and old both, to get away f

xcept that little fellow at home there-well, sir! when he came to me, he didn't know the difference between an oak and an elm, give you my word he didn't. Remember one day-he heard me giving directions to Giuseppe about cutting some ashes-clump of them in the field below the house, needed thinning out-and he wanted to know how ashes could be cut; thought I meant those in the fireplace, sir. Monstrous! Well, I taught him a little, and you and your young folks have taught him a great d

a boy's appetite with you, at least. Who are the cooks to-night, Miranda? Oh, I see; Bell and Jack.

t quite half-way to his knees, advanced bearin

ffing. "Smells good! you had no

thery rolls, "it is all Jack's doing, every bit. It is his famous pilaff, that the old Greek profe

e was doing while he was supposed to be studying. I always knew the rascal was deceiving me.

oberly; "a very important part. This dish is chemical

further demonstration!" said Bell. "M

r does!"

. Oh, please not!" as Phil tried to heap her plate wi

ertrude, holdin

id Phil. "No one doubt

four hours," said Mrs. Merryweather. "Give Margaret time

ou all that I do not outstay my two days. Twice as much as I am eating now wo

lonel F

away in two days? We counted on a

you understand; and the boy-I must get back. He is too young to have the responsibility. Most amazing boy in the world; I haven't the slighte

, Uncle!"

cried Gertrude. "Any one

resolutely. "Thanks! thanks!" he said, heartily. "Good children! kind an

or more than twenty-four hours away from Hugh. After that le

ped you were teaching this fellow better manners. Symptoms, indeed! You have seen no symptoms

. "But all the same, I think I should not try to detain you

Mrs. Merryweather and spoke in a lower tone, "fortunate old fellow, eh? to have one young face-two, perhaps, for my Giraffe loves me too-brighten when one comes. Ah! you, with all your wealth

other end of the table. "Will you c

Colonel. "Won't I? L

and the campers were taking their places. In the birch canoe, the original Cheemaun, Mrs. Merryweather was going as passenger, with her husband and

ief. "Where shall we go?

They had some stunt on hand, and we ar

give wa

e spoke. The Cheemaun, with the powerful arms at either end, took the lead and kept it easily: next came the Nahma a

asked Geral

d Margare

again. The paddle dipped noiseless in the liquid silve

, still speaking under her breath. "I never dr

t is

ght to be very good, to live in a w

us are, M

nce

ld. "I hoped you would. I've-I've been lo

aid Margaret, simply. "I was

like to know what

people, you know. I have never seen a large

"Especially now! I say, Margaret! t

you mean, Gerald?

owled her over completely. Nice

l," said Margaret. "Does she really like me?

s the image of me?" as

downright Margaret. "Oh! hark, G

shadow, and forth from this shadow stole notes of music, l

ack Shore yonder, and the noise is that of the Tree-browser's fiddle, in sooth a goodl

Margaret. "Oh! bu

ter's edge, fir and pine, with here and there a white birch glimmering ghostlike; and still the music rose, ever clearer and sweeter, thrilling on the silent air. It seemed no voice of anything made by man;

he mountain

the tr

breath is

ds are

in the

it! onl

u too sh

lonel under his breath. "Am I ali

it?" whisper

Tintinnabula's. Nor does the song altogether exc

f fir and cedar brushed Margaret's cheek as she sat motionless, spellbound. It was a world of soft darkness, black upon black: the silver world they had just left seemed a

tretched far out from the shore, they came upon the

It's Bell and Jack, Kitty; I kn

did sound like nymphs; I am sure

mother. "Children, you have given us a

you," said Bell; "now we mus

ccompaniment, song after song in chorus: German student songs, with merry refrain of "vivallera la" and "juch heira s

, singing as they went; till, twinkling through the fringe of trees, they saw the lights