rocky and rough for her taste, and that she should be in constant
terror of snakes curling round her toes.

'I've a great mind to wake Laura, just for once,' said Bell, opening
the tent door. 'There never was such a morning! (I believe I've
said that regularly every day; but I simply never can get used to
it.) There must have been a wonderful sunrise, dears, for the glow
hasn't faded yet. Not a bit of morning fog--that's good for Elsie.
And what a lovely day for a birthday! Did they use to give you
anything like this in Vermont, Polly?'

'Hardly,' said Polly, peering over Bell's shoulder. 'Let's see.
What did they give us in Vermont this month? Why, I can't think of
anything but dog-days, hot nights, and hay fever; but that sounds
ungrateful. Why, Geoff's up already! There's Elsie's bunch of
vines, and twigs, and pretty things hanging on her tent-door. He's
been off on horseback. Just my luck to have him get up first. Jack
always does, you know; and last night I sewed up the tent-opening
with carpet-thread, good and tight, overhand--stitches I wouldn't be
ashamed of at a sewing-school.'

'Oh you naughty girl!' laughed Bell. 'The boys could rip it open
with a knife in half the time it took you to sew it.'

'Certainly. I didn't mean to keep them sewed up all day; but I
thought I'd like Jack to remember me the first thing this morning.'

'Girls,' whispered Margery, excitedly, 'don't stand there mooning--or
sunning--for ever! I thought there was a gopher in this tent last
night. I heard something scratching, and I thought it was the dog