sang Jack, nonchalantly.
“Oh, Laura,” remonstrated Bell, “think twice before you encourage him in his dreadful ways. We have studied him very carefully, and we know that the only way to live with him is to keep him in a sort of ‘pint pot’ where we can hold the lid open just a little, and clap it down suddenly whenever he tries to spring out.”
“Do not mind that young person, Miss Laura, but form your own impressions of my charming character. Excuse me, please, while I put on a celluloid collar, and make some few changes in my toilet necessary to a proper appearance in your distinguished company.”
“I prefer you as you are,” answered Laura, laughingly. “Let us start at once.”
“Do you hear that, young person? She prefers me as I are! Now see what magic power her generosity has upon me!” And he darted into the tent, from which he issued in a moment with his Derby hat, a manzanita cane, a pocket-handkerchief tied about his throat, and a flower pinned on his flannel camping-shirt—a most ridiculous figure, since nothing seems so out of place in the woods as any suggestion of city costumes or customs. Laura was in high good-humour, and looked exceedingly brilliant and pretty, as she always did when she was the central figure of any group or the bright particular star of any occasion.
“Be home before dark,” said Dr. Winship. “Pancho, keep a look-out for the pack-mule. Truth, one of the pack-mules has disappeared.”
“So? Dumpling or Ditto?”
“Ditto, curiously enough. His name should have led him not to set an example, but to follow one.”
Elsie came.
Perhaps you thought that this was going to be an exciting story, and that something would happen to keep her at the Tacitas ranch; but nothing did. Everything came to pass exactly as it was arranged, and Jack met his mother and sister at twelve o’clock some four miles from the camp, and escorted them to the gates.