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.
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