Trouble did not go with them, his mother saying he must have a little
sleep so he would not be so cross in the afternoon. And when Jan, her
brother and Hal came up from the lake they found the little fellow
making what he called a "playhouse."

"Oh, what funny stones Trouble has!" cried Ted as he saw them. "They're
blue."

"They're pretty," decided Janet. "Where'd you get them, Trouble?"

"Over dere," and he pointed to a spot some distance from the camp.

"He found them himself and brought them here in his apron," said Mrs.
Martin. "He's been piling them up into what I called a castle, but he
says it's a playhouse. He's been very good playing with the blue
stones."

"Let's get some too, and see who can build the biggest castle!" cried
Janet. "Show us where you got them, Trouble."

But when Baby William toddled to the place where he had picked up the
blue stones there were no more. He had gathered them all, it seemed, and
now would not let his brother or sister take any from his pile.

However they found other stones which did as well, though they were not
blue in color, and soon the Curlytops and Hal, as well as Trouble, were
making a little house of stones.

"This is more fun than playing store!" cried Janet, as she made a little
round tower as part of her castle.

"Are you making a palace for Princess Blue Eyes, Hal?" asked Ted.

"Yes," he answered, for his stone castle was rather a large one. "But I
can't be sure she'll like it. She doesn't want to stay in one place very
long. She's like a firefly--always dancing about."

And so they pretended and played, having a very good time, while Mother
Martin watched them and smiled. The children were having great fun
camping with grandpa.

The castles finished--Trouble's being the prettiest because of the blue
stones, though not as large or fancy as the others--the Curlytops, Hal
and Baby William went on a little picnic in the woods that afternoon,
taking Nicknack with them. Or rather, the goat took them, for he pulled
them in the cart along the forest path.

When Jan, Hal and Ted were eating breakfast the next morning they heard
a cry from Trouble, who had toddled out of the tent as soon as he had
finished his meal.

"Oh, what has happened to him now?" exclaimed Mother Martin. "Run and
see, Jan, dear, that's a good girl!"

Janet found her little brother at the place where they had made the
castles the night before. Trouble's eyes were filled with tears.