Ernest was very unused to girls who had to be helped, and he was rather awkward in trying to give his cousin assistance, but as Gladys tetered on the unsteady stones, she grasped his strong shoulder and jumped down.
"Father and Ernest cleared this grove out for us," explained Faith. All the underbrush had been carried away and the straight, sweet-smelling pines rose from a carpet of dry needles. A hammock was swung between two trees. It was used more by the children's mother than by them, as they were too active to care for it; but Gladys immediately ran toward it, her recovered doll in her arms, and seated herself in the netting. Her cousins regarded her admiringly as she sat there pushing herself with her dainty shoe-tips.
"I'll swing you," said Ernest, and running to her side began with such a will that Gladys cried out:—
"Oh, not so hard, not so hard!" and the boy dropped his hands, abashed.
Now, while they were both standing before her, was a good time for Gladys to give them her great surprise; so she put her hands about Vera's waist, and at once "Ma-ma—Pa-pa" sounded in the still grove.
Ernest pricked up his ears. "I hear a sheep," he said, looking about.
Gladys flushed, but turning toward Faith for appreciation, she made the doll repeat her accomplishment.
"It's that dear Vera!" cried Faith, falling on her knees in the pine needles before Gladys. "Oh, make her do it again, Gladys, please do!"
Her visitor smiled and complied, pleased with her country cousin's delight.