“I gotter take ye up before somebody pinches me.”
“Pinches you? What do you mean?” asked Jess, doubtfully.
“I don’t want to wake up,” declared Liz. “I never got so much money since I was turned adrift when my a’nt died. Don’t you wake up, neither, and forgit to pay me!”
“I promise not to do that,” laughed Laura. “Then you’ll come with us?”
“If I don’t break an arm,” declared Lizzie Bean, with emphasis.
They told her how to meet them at the dock, and the hour they expected to start. “And bring your oldest clothes,” warned Jess.
“What’s that?” demanded Liz.
“We just about live in old clothes—or in a bathing suit—in camp,” explained Laura.
“Bless your heart!” exclaimed Liz. “I ain’t never had nothin’ but old clo’es. Been wearin’ hand-me-downs ever since I can remember.”
“My goodness gracious!” said Jess, and she and Laura hurried off for school. “Did you ever see such an uncouth creature? I don’t wonder Billy Long says she’s cracked.” 44