a summer in a canyon-第2节

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breath　of　fresh　air；　or　want　to　believe　that　the　spring　has　come；
just　call　Bell　Winship　in；　as　she　walks　with　her　breezy　step　down　the
street。　　Her　very　hair　seems　instinct　with　life；　with　its　flying
tendrils　of　bronze　brightness　and　the　riotous　little　curls　on　her
brow　and　temples。　　Then；　too；　she　has　a　particularly　jaunty　way　of
putting　on　her　jacket；　or　wearing　a　flower　or　a　ribbon；　and　as　for
her　ringing　peal　of　laughter；　it　is　like　a　chime　of　silver　bells。

Elsie　Howard；　the　invalid　friend　of　the　girls；　was　as　dear　to　them　as
they　were　to　each　other。　　She　kept　the　secrets　of　the　'firm'；　mourned
over　their　griefs　and　smiled　over　their　joys；　was　proud　of　their
talents　and　tenderly　blind　to　their　faults。　　The　little　wicker
rocking…chair　by　the　bedside　was　often　made　a　sort　of　confessional；
at　which　she　presided；　the　tenderest　and　most　sympathetic　little
priestess　in　the　universe；　and　every　afternoon　the　piazza；　with　its
lattice　of　green　vines；　served　as　a　mimic　throne…room；　where　she　was
wont　to　hold　high　court；　surrounded　by　her　devoted　subjects。　　Here
Geoffrey　Strong　used　often　to　read　to　the　assembled　company　David
Copperfield；　Alice　in　Wonderland；　or　snatches　from　the　magazines；
while　Jack　Howard　lazily　stretched　himself　under　the　orange…trees　and
braided　lariats；　a　favourite　occupation　with　California　boys。　　About
four　o'clock　Philip　Noble　would　ride　up　from　his　father's　fruit
ranch；　some　three　miles　out　on　the　San　Marcos　road；　and；　hitching　his
little　sorrel　mare　Chispa　at　the　gate；　stay　an　hour　before　going　to
the　post…office。

This　particular　afternoon；　however；　was　not　one　of　Elsie's　bright
ones；　and　there　was　no　sign　of　court　or　invalid　queen　on　the　piazza。
The　voices　of　the　girls　floated　out　from　Elsie's　bedroom；　while　the
boys；　too；　seemed　to　be　somewhere　in　the　vicinity；　for　there　was　a
constant　stirring　about　as　of　lively　preparation；　together　with　noise
of　hammering　and　sawing。

'If　you　were　only　going；　Elsie；　our　cup　of　happiness　would　be　full；'
sighed　Bell。

'Not　only　would　it　be　full；　Bell；　but　it　would　be　running　over；　and
we　should　positively　stand　in　the　slop；'　said　Polly。　　'No；　you
needn't　frown　at　me；　miss；　that　expression　is　borrowed　from　no　less　a
person　than　Sydney　Smith。'

'Don't　think　any　more　about　me；'　smiled　Elsie。　　'Perhaps　I　can　come
down　in　the　course　of　the　summer。　　I　know　it　will　be　the　happiest
time　in　the　world；　but　I　don't　envy　you　a　bit；　in　fact；　I'm　very　glad
you're　going；　because　you'll　have　such　a　lovely　budget　of　adventures
to　tell　me　when　you　come　back。'

'When　we　come　back；　indeed！'　exclaimed　Bell。　　'Why；　we　shall　write
long　round…robin　letters　every　few　days；　and　send　them　by　the　team。
Papa　says　Pancho　will　have　to　go　over　to　the　stage　station　at　least
once　a　week　for　letters　and　any　provisions　we　may　need。'

'Oh；　won't　that　be　delightful；almost　as　good　as　being　there　myself！
And；　Margery　dear；　you　must　make　them　tell　me　every　least　little
thing　that　happens。　　You　know　they　are　such　fly…aways　that　they'll
only　write　me　when　they　learn　to　swim；　or　shoot　a　wildcat；　or　get
lost　in　the　woods。　　I　want　to　know　all　the　stupid　bits：　　what　you
have　for　dinner；　how　and　where　you　sleep；　how　your　camp　looks；　what
you　do　from　morning　till　night；　and　how　Dicky　behaves。'

'I　can　tell　you　that　beforehand；'　said　Bell；　dolefully。　　'Jack　will
shoot　him　by　mistake　on　Thursday；　he　will　be　kicked　by　the　horses
Friday；　and　bitten　by　tarantulas　and　rattlesnakes　Saturday；　he　will
eat　poison　oak　on　Sunday；　get　lost　in　the　canyon　Monday；　be　eaten　by
a　bear　Tuesday；　and　drowned　in　the　pool　Wednesday。　　These　incidents
will　complete　his　first　week；　and　if　they　produce　no　effect　on　his
naturally　strong　constitution；　he　will　treat　us　to　another　week；
containing　just　as　many　mishaps；　but　no　duplicates。'

By　the　time　this　dismal　prophecy　was　ended　the　other　girls　were　in　a
breathless　fit　of　laughter；　though　all　acknowledged　it　was　likely　to
be　fulfilled。

'I　went　over　the　camping…ground　last　summer；'　said　Margery。　　'You
know　it　is　quite　near　papa's　sheep　ranch；　and　it　is　certainly　the
most　beautiful　place　in　California。　　The　tents　will　be　pitched　at　the
mouth　of　the　canyon；　where　there　is　a　view　of　the　ocean；　and　just　at
the　back　will　be　a　lovely　grove　of　wild　oaks　and　sycamore…trees。'

'Oh；　won't　it　be　delicious！'　sighed　Elsie。　　'I　feel　as　if　I　could
sniff　the　air　this　minute。　　But　there！　　I　won't　pretend　that　I'm
dying　for　fresh　air；　with　the　breath　of　the　sea　coming　in　at　my　south
window；　and　a　whiff　of　jasmine　and　honeysuckle　from　the　piazza。　　That
would　be　nonsense。　　Are　your　trunks　packed？'

'Trunks！'　exclaimed　Polly。　　'Would　you　believe　it；　our　clothes　are
packed　in　gunny…sacks！　　We　start　in　our　camping…dresses；　with　ulsters
for　the　steamer　and　dusters　for　the　long　drive。　　Then　we　each　have
let　me　see　what　we　have：　　a　short；　tough　riding…skirt　with　a　jersey；
a　bathing…dress；　and　some　gingham　morning…gowns　to　wear　about　the
camp　at　breakfast…time。'

'And　flannel　gowns　for　the　night；　and　two　pairs　of　boots；　and　a
riding…cap　and　one　hat　apiece；'　added　Margery。

'But　oh；　Elsie；　my　dear；　you　should　see　Dicky　in　his　camping…suits；'
laughed　Bell。　　'They　are　a　triumph　of　invention　on　mamma's　part。
Just　imagine！　one　is　of　some　enamelled　cloth　that　was　left　over　from
the　new　carriage　cushions；　it　is　very　shiny　and　elegant；　and　the
other；　truly；　is　of　soft　tanned　leather；　and　just　as　pretty　as　it　can
be。　　Then　he　has　hob…nailed；　copper…toed　boots；　and　a　hat　that　ties
under　his　chin。　　Poor　little　man；　he　has　lost　his　curls；　too；　and
looks　rather　like　a　convict。'

Mrs。　Howard　came　in　the　door　while　Bell　was　speaking；　and　laughed
heartily　at　the　description　of　Dicky's　curious　outfit。　　'What　time　do
you　start？'　she　asked；　as　she　laid　a　bunch　of　mignonette　on　Elsie's
table。

'At　eleven　to…morrow　morning；'　Bell　answered。　　'Everything　is　packed。
We　are　to　start　in　the　steamer；　and　when　we　come　to　our　old　landing；
about　forty　miles　down　the　coast；　we　are　to　get　off　and　take　a　three…
seated　thorough…brace　wagon；　and　drive　over　to　Las　Flores　Canyon。
Pancho　has　hired　a　funny　little　pack　mule；　he　says　we　shall　need　one
in　going　up　the　mountain；　and　that　the　boys　can　take　him　when　they　go
out　shooting；to　carry　the　deer　home；　you　know。'

'If　I　can　bring　Elsie　down；　as　I　hope；　we　must　come　by　land；'　said
Mrs。　Howard。　　'I　thought　we　could　take　two　days　for　the　journey；
sleeping　at　the　Burtons'　ranch　on　the　way。　　The　doctor　says　that　if
she　can　get　strength　enough　to　bear　the　ride；　the　open…air　life　will
do　her　good；　even　if　she　does　nothing　but　lie　in　the　hammock。'

'And　be　waited　upon　by　six　willing　slaves；'　added　Polly。

'And　be　fed　on　canned　corned　beef　and　tomato　stew；'　laughed　Bell。

'Not　a　bit　of　it；'　said　Margery。　　'Hop　Yet　is　a　splendid　cook；　if　he
has　anything　to　cook；　and　we'll　feed　her　on　broiled　titbits　of　baby
venison；　goat's　milk；　wild　bees'　honey；　and　cunning　little　mourning
doves；　roasted　on　a　spit。'

'Good　gracious；'　cried　Bell；　'what　angels'　food！　only　I　would　as　soon
devour　a　pet　canary　as　a　mourning　dove。　　But　to　think　that　I've　been
trying　to　diet　for　a　week　in　order　to　get　intimate　with　suffering　and
privation！　　Polly　came　to　stay　with　me　one　night；　and　we　slept　on　the
floor；　with　only　a　blanket　under　us；　and　no　pillow；　it　was　perfectly
horrid。　　Polly　dreamed　that　her　grandfather　ate　up　her　grandmother；
and　I　that　Dicky　stabbed　the　Jersey　calf　with　a　pickle…fork。'

'Horrors！'　ejaculated　Margery；　'that's　a　pleasant　prospect　for　your
future　bedfellows。　　I　hope　the　gophers　won't　make　you　nervous；
gnawing　and　scratching　in　the　straw；　I　got　used　to　them　last　summer。
But　we　really　must　go；　darling；'　and　she　stooped　to　kiss　Elsie　good…
bye。

'Well；　I　suppose　you　ought；'　she　answered。　　'But　remember　you　are　to
start　from　this　gate；　Aunt　Truth　has　promised　me　the　fun　of　seeing
you　out　of　sight。'

The　girls　went　out　at　a　side　door；　and　joined　the　boys；　who　were
busily　at　work　cleaning　their　guns　on　the　broad　western　porch。

'How　are　you　coming　on？'　questioned　Polly。

'Oh；　finely；'　answered　Jack；　who　always　constituted　himself　chief
spokesman；　unless　driven　from　the　rostrum　by　some　one　possessed　of　a
nimbler　tongue。　　'I　only　hope　your　feminine　togs　are　in　half　as　good
order。'

'We　take　no　baggage　to　speak　of；'　said　Bell；　loftily。　　'Papa　has　cut
us　down　to　the　very　last　notch；　and　says　the　law　allows　very　few
pounds　on　this　trip。'

'The　less　the　better；'　quoth　Geoff；　cheerily；　'then　you'll　have　to
polish　up　your　mental　jewels。'

'Which　you　consider　imitation；　I　suppose；'　sniffed　Polly。

'Perish　the　thought！'　cried　Jack。　　'But；　speaking　of　mental　jewels；
you　should　see　the　arrangements　Geoff　has　made　for　polishing　his。　　He
has　actually　stuck　in　six　large　volumes；　any　one　of　which　would　be　a
remedy　for　sleeplessness。　　What　are　you　going　to　study；　Miss　Pol…y…
on…o…mous　Oliver？'

'Now；　Jack；　let　us　decide　at　once　whether　you　intend　to　be　respectful
or　not。　　I　don't　propose　to　expose　myself　to　your　nonsense　for　two
months　unless　you　make　me　good　promises。'

'Why；　that　wasn't　disrespectful。　　It　is　my　newest　word；　and　it　simply
means　having　many　titles。　　I'm　sure