“Who says a rainy day isn’t fun?” asked Jo, as they went to their tents.
“It has certainly been mighty jolly,” acknowledged Mary Lee.
“But I haven’t darned a single stocking,” said Nan.
“What are you talking about, girl?” said Jo. “You can darn stockings any time, but when are we inspired as we have been to-day? Answer me that.”
“Oh, don’t you believe but that I was glad of an excuse to get out of it,” confessed Nan. So they parted for the night, and in a little while the only sound to be heard was the gentle rain pattering on the leaves.
CHAPTER VIII
AN EARLY DIP
Almost every morning were seen barefooted figures scudding across the grass from the tents to the lakeside, and next would follow a great splashing about to the accompaniment of much laughter.
Jack, who always enjoyed going further in her discoveries than any one else, was one morning wading just beyond where Nan was taking her early dip. The sun had not been up very long and there was a rosy light upon land and water. Every blade of grass was shining with dew and the birds were twittering in the trees or were dipping their wings in the lake as they flew over. Nan was appreciating it all immensely. “There’s nothing like early morning to give one the true loveliness of a spot like this,” she was saying to Jo, when Jack came splashing through the water toward her.
“Oh, Nan, Nan,” she cried, “come up here with me; there’s a poor something caught in the bushes, like Abraham’s ram. Do come see what it is.”