After breakfast Mrs. Warner announced that everybody was to do exactly as he or she pleased until the luncheon hour, but she had plans herself for their entertainment in the afternoon.
So Winthrop and Roger went off on some affairs of their own, and Bertha devoted herself to the amusement of the two girls.
First, she suggested they should all walk around the place, and this proved a delightful occupation.
Pine Branches was an immense estate, covering hundreds of acres, and there was a brook, a grove, golf grounds, tennis court and everything that could by any possibility add to the interest or pleasure of its occupants.
“But my chief and dearest possession,” said Bertha, smiling, “is Abiram.”
“A dog?” asked Patty.
“No,” said Bertha, “but come, and I will show him to you. He lives down here, in this little house.”
The little house was very like a large-sized dog-kennel, but when they reached it, its occupant proved to be a woolly black bear cub.
“He’s a perfect dear, Abiram is,” said Bertha, as she opened the door, and the fat little bear came waddling out. He was fastened to a long chain, and his antics were funny beyond description.
“He’s a real picture-bear,” said Bertha; “see, his poses are just like those of the bears in the funny papers.”