th was still trembling from the narrowness of her escape,
she did not wish to take advantage of Julia's generosity, but the
latter insisted.

Thus persuaded, Beth, cautiously this time, tried reclining on the
branches. She found that they really made a delightful bed.

"It is beautiful, Julia. Why, I don't believe I should be afraid to
sleep here. These limbs would keep me from falling."

"And here is another bed just as good. You see I'm right across the
hall from you. I didn't have to go to the next floor as I feared at
first. It's nicer being near each other, isn't it, Beth?"

"Yes, much nicer, but wouldn't you rather have this room, Julia? It is
so lovely."

"No, it isn't. Mine is best. I can look way up to the sky."

"Why, that isn't nice at all. I wouldn't sleep in a room without a
roof. Mine has a roof painted green."

"I don't care, mine's nicer."

"No, it isn't. Mine is."

Whereupon they had a fuss, such as all children sometimes have. They
declared that "they didn't like each other," and that one was "hateful"
and the other "too mean to live," and that "they'd never speak again."

In a minute or two after, they were talking as lively as two young
magpies. They had figuratively kissed and made up.

"Now," said Julia, "I'm going to draw the portcullis so we can never go
down unless some one comes to release us."

"I don't care to stay here always."

"We're only playing, goosie, but you have to stay until morning because
you promised."

After that one thrust, Julia relented and tried to be as nice as she
possibly could, and Beth had such a good time that her conscience
stopped troubling her.

The minutes passed so quickly that they both were surprised to see how
low the sun was. The captive ladies decided it was time to eat supper,
so they divided supplies, using their laps as tables.

Beth, the unfortunate, had not taken a mouthful when a great pinching
bug dropped on her head. She jumped to her feet screaming, and her
supper was all scattered to the ground. She decided to go after it.

"Where are you going, Beth?"

"After my supper."

"But the portcullis is drawn."

"I'm going to have my supper, portcullis or no portcullis."

Already it was growing so dark that objects were becoming
indistinguishable. Suddenly Beth uttered a cry.

"What's the matter?"

"I,--I thought it was a bear. It's only Don, however, and he's eaten
up all my supper, the mean thing, and now h