t won't let us."

"See if she don't;" and Lil bounced out of the hammock, and into the
house, where in the cool darkness of a shaded parlor sat a slender lady,
with a pile of flosses in her lap, and a graceful basket in her hands,
which she was ornamenting. "Aunt Kit, I have come to ask a favor. We are
just bored to death doing nothing."

"Lil, how can you use such an expression? I am shocked. You are really
getting very careless in your use of words."

"Well, then, excuse me, but it's the truth all the same. Ollie and I
want some fun; the boys wouldn't take us fishing, and now I want you to
let us put on some old duds and go over to the Pokebys'. We will promise
to come home to tea, we will be as prim as prunes afterward, and I'll
play two extra exercises to-morrow, and learn three pages of French. Now
you can't say no; there's every reason for saying yes, and you will have
a nice quiet time all day, without being bothered. Please--that's a
darling!" and she smothered her retreating relative with kisses.

After some hesitation, and after many protestations that they would
remember every charge given them, the girls received permission to go to
the farm.

"I never was more surprised in my life," said Ollie, as, after donning
plainer attire, she and Lil started out. "Now I am going in for a day's
fun."

"What are you going to do?"

"Everything. When I get hold of Clara Pokeby--There she is now!"

"Oh, Clara!" broke out both girls at once, "we have come to spend the
afternoon, if we may. Is it convenient?"

"I'll ask mother," said the quiet little maid, with a sincerity which
somewhat dampened Lil's ardor.

They were joined in a few moments more by two other girls, each a year
older and an inch higher; and now Lil, having an audience, began to
talk, as they left the orchard where they had met, and from which they
were walking to the farm-house, which peered out from its thicket of
lilac-bushes, syringas, and overhanging maples. She was waxing eloquent
over her dissatisfaction with boarding-house amusements, the boys'
neglect, and her aunt's strictness, when they reached the door, and
Clara made known her wishes to her mother.

Mrs. Pokeby had heard the conclusion of Lil's speech, and a smile was
dancing around the corners of her mouth.

"A little more work and a little less play would be my remedy, Miss
Lil." But seeing the girl looked somewhat crest-fallen, she said,
kindly: "Come in, come in, all of you,