“‘Nope,’ says Mr. Moose. ‘Next.’
“Next scholar spelled it the same way and that didn’t suit Mr. Moose, and so it went on down the line, everybody taking a shy at ‘Eggpit.’ Finally Miss Harris asked to see the book.
“‘These young ’uns of yourn air mighty bad spellers,’ said Mr. Moose.
“‘But they have all spelled ’eggpit’ right,’ said Miss Harris. ‘Where is the word?’
“And what do you suppose Moose pointed out?” chuckled Eve.
“Give it up!” was the chorus of her listeners.
“‘Egypt!’”
“My goodness!” cried Jess, choked with laughter. “Can you beat that for a school trustee?”
They arrived at the sloping hollow at the end of Peveril Pond, where they proposed to picnic, very soon after this. It was a pretty glade, and the smooth road went down to the shore and skirted it for half a mile.
Off on a rocky point were several boys or men fishing; but they were not near enough to disturb our friends. Of course the boys clamored for lunch at once; but while the girls prepared it the boys were shooed off to begin the nut gathering.