Marjorie threw herself into a hammock, and declared that she should just stay there.
The Matron settled her small person in the biggest rocking-chair, and, with an air of weighty responsibility, frowned over her account-books.
Nan appropriated a wicker couch, and announced that she was going to dream dreams and see visions.
Betty and Jessie sat together in another hammock, swinging themselves by vigorous kicks, which scratched much paint off the piazza floor.
Hester sat bolt upright in a small straight-backed chair, and crocheted lace from a gently bobbing spool of thread.
Helen was trying to write a letter, but was much hampered by Millicent’s teasing.
It pleased the ingenious Lamplighter to substitute various articles in place of Helen’s inkstand, and that preoccupied scribe had dipped her pen successively into an apple, a hat, a slipper, and, finally, into Millicent’s own curly topknot.
Long-suffering Helen smiled good-naturedly at each prank, and patiently set her inkstand in place again. So Millicent declared it was no fun to tease her, and transferred her attention to Timmy Loo.
Taking a sheet of Helen’s paper, she made a cocked hat for him, and, with a paper-cutter for a sword, he posed successfully as Napoleon.
The applause at this performance was so great that it caused Aunt Molly to appear at her window.