while a giggle sounded from the other side of the hedge.

"Did you see that?" shrieked Maria; "those flowers ran away of
themselves."

"Nonsense," said Katy, "it's those absurd children." Then, opening the
gate, she called: "John! Dorry! come out and show yourselves." But
nobody replied, and no one could be seen. The nosegay lay on the path,
however, and picking it up, Katy exhibited to the girls a long end of
black thread, tied to the stems.

"That's a very favorite trick of Johnnie's," she said: "she and Dorry
are always tying up flowers, and putting them out on the walk to tease
people. Here, Maria, take 'em if you like. Though I don't think John's
taste in bouquets is very good."

"Isn't it splendid to have vacation come?" said one of the bigger girls.
"What are you all going to do? We're going to the seaside."

"Pa says he'll take Susie and me to Niagara," said Maria.

"I'm going to make my aunt a visit," said Alice Blair. "She lives in a
real lovely place in the country, and there's a pond there; and Tom
(that's my cousin) says he'll teach me to row. What are you going to
do, Katy?"

"Oh, I don't know; play round and have splendid times," replied Katy,
throwing her bag of books into the air, and catching it again. But the
other girls looked as if they didn't think this good fun at all, and as
if they were sorry for her; and Katy felt suddenly that her vacation