Prev | Current Page 140 | Next

Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith, 1856-1923

"A Summer in a Canyon"

'
'Take him, certainly,' said Dr. Winship.
'Do let me go with you!' pleaded Laura, with enthusiasm. 'I should
like the walk so much.'
'It's pretty rough, Laura,' objected Margery. 'If you couldn't
endure our walk this morning, you would never get home alive from
Pico Negro.'
'Oh, that was in the heat of the day,' she answered. 'I feel equal
to any amount of walking now, if Jack doesn't mind taking me.'
'Delighted, of course, Miss Laura. You'll be willing to carry home
one of the trees, I suppose, in return for the pleasure of my
society?'
'Snub him severely, Laura,' cried Bell; 'we never allow him to say
such things unreproved.'
'I think he is snubbed too much already,' replied Laura, with a
charming smile, 'and I shall see how a course of encouragement will
affect his behaviour.'

'That will be what I long have sought,
And mourned because I found it not,'

sang Jack, nonchalantly.
'Oh, Laura,' remonstrated Bell, 'think twice before you encourage him
in his dreadful ways. We have studied him very carefully, and we
know that the only way to live with him is to keep him in a sort of
"pint pot" where we can hold the lid open just a little, and clap it
down suddenly whenever he tries to spring out.'
'Do not mind that young person, Miss Laura, but form your own
impressions of my charming character. Excuse me, please, while I put
on a celluloid collar, and make some few changes in my toilet
necessary to a proper appearance in your distinguished company.


Pages:
128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152