all wickedness. In the grape-arbour he massed certain articles necessary
for the expedition: a very small strip of carpet on which he meant to
sleep; a copy of "_Golden Days_," with an article giving elaborate
instructions for camping in the wilderness. He was compelled to disregard
all of them, but there was comfort and sustenance in the article itself.
Then there was the gun that came at Christmas. It shot a cork as far as
the string would let it go, with a fairly satisfying report (he would have
that string off, once he was in the woods!). Also there were three glass
alleys, two agate taws and thirty-eight commies. And to hold his outfit
there was a rather sizable box which he with his own hands had papered
inside and out from a remnant of gorgeously flowered wall-paper.

When all was ready he went in to break the news to Clytie. She, busy with
her baking, heard him declare:

"Now--I'm going to leave this place!" with the look of one who will not be
coaxed nor in any manner dissuaded. He thought she took it rather coolly,
though Allan ran, as promptly as he could have wished, to tell his
grandfather.

"I'm going to be a regular mean one--_worse'n_ Budd Jackson!" he continued
to Clytie. He was glad to see that this brought her to her senses.

"Will you stay if I give you--an orange?"

"No, _sir;_--you'll never set eyes on _me_ again!"

"Oh, now!--two oranges?"

"I can't--I _got_ to go!" in a voice tense with effort.