everything that you need, and to do it very reasonably. Of course we can
not know what degree of expense those requiring tents care to incur, so
we leave that matter for them to decide for themselves. You can have as
many or as few comforts as you choose, and pay accordingly."

"And are all four of us expected to occupy this one room?" There was an
expression of decided disgust on Miss Erskine's face.

"Way, you see," explained the amused President, "this tent is designed
for four; two good-sized bedsteads set up in it; and the necessity seems
to be upon us to crowd as much as we can conveniently. There will be no
danger of impure air, you know, for you have all out-doors to breathe."

"And you really don't have toilet stands or toilet accommodations! What
a way to live!"

Another voice chimed in now, which was the very embodiment of refined
horror.

"And you don't have pianos nor sofas, and the room isn't lighted with
gas! I'm sure I don't see how we can live! It is not what we have been
accustomed to."

This was Marion, with the most dancing eyes in the world, and the
President completed the scene by laughing outright. Suddenly Ruth
discovered that she was acting the part of a simpleton, and with flushed
face she turned from them, and walked to a vacant seat, in the opposite
direction from where they were standing.

"We will take this one," she said, haughtily, without vouchsafing it a
look. "I presume it is as good as any of them, and, since we are fairly
into this absurd scrape we must make the best of it."

"Or the worst of it," Marion said, still laughing. "You are bent on
doing that, I think, Ruthie."

By a violent effort and rare good sense Ruth controlled herself
sufficiently to laugh, and the embarrassment vanished. There were
splendid points about this girl's character, not the least among them
being the ability to laugh at a joke that had been turned toward
herself. At least the effect was splendid. The reasons, therefore, might
have been better. It was because her sharp brain saw the better effect
that her ability to do this thing immediately produced on the people
around her. But I shall have to confess that a poise of character strong
enough to gracefully avert unpleasant effects arising from causes of her
own making ought to have been strong enough to have suppressed the
causes.

The question of an abiding-place being thus summarily disposed of, the
party set themselves to work with great en