“I know where the strawberry bed isn’t,” said Jack, “it isn’t down cellar,” as he appeared with smutty streaks across his face, showing where he had been exploring.
“Let’s rest a few minutes longer under these lovely trees,” pleaded May. “It will be so hot out in the garden.”
“Well, I’ll show you,” said Cricket, running down the steps. “I won’t keep you in suspicion.”
“In suspense,” put in Marjorie.
“Well, I meant suspense. It’s all the same,” said Cricket, cheerfully. “Come on, boys! Oh, you dear old trees!”
“I suppose we might as well all go, then,” said Marjorie, getting up.
The strawberry beds quite fulfilled Dr. Ward’s accounts of them. The children fell eagerly to work, their fatigue all forgotten. Such great, luscious berries as drooped their rosy faces under the leaves would make everything forgotten but themselves. For a while there were constant shouts of “Oh, what a beauty!” “My! look at this bunch!” “See these bouncers!” till beauties and bouncers were an old story.
“I couldn’t eat another berry to save my life, I do believe!” sighed Eunice, at last, looking very sad.
“Eat them, then, to save the berries,” answered Jack, popping a very big one into her mouth.
“Now for my part,” said Alex, “I was just going to inquire about luncheon.”