who should be first leader.

It fell to Kitty Hall, next to Susy the quietest of the seven; the lead
she set them was a very mild affair, limited to the shallowest and
narrowest parts of the brook.

But with Patricia's turn, matters took a change for the better, or
worse, according to the point of view. Patricia hopped and skipped, and
did everything except walk demurely on two feet, out of the safe,
pleasant shallows straight for the "pool," which was quite knee deep at
this time of year.

Once there, she turned to view her followers, and it wouldn't have been
Patricia, if she hadn't slipped and, with a little shriek of surprise,
sat right down in the pool.

There was a moment's hesitation, then Nell boldly followed suit; one by
one, ending with Susy, the other five dropped down in the cool rippling
water, which seemed to laugh, as if it saw the joke.

"Oh!" Patricia cried, "I never meant--" She was on her feet as quickly
as possible. Susy was just the kind to go and catch cold, why she had
begun to shiver and shake already.

The next few moments were strenuous ones for Patricia's followers. Never
had she led them such a chase, through all the hottest, sunniest parts
of the big meadow.

"We've got to run, so as not to catch cold," she panted; and run
they did, their wet skirts flapping against their bare legs, hats and