tter and always agreed that camp life and hotel life
were equally pleasant, though in opposite ways. And if Dotty sometimes
sighed for the careless freedom of the life in the woods or if Dolly
felt in her secret heart that she preferred the more formal conventions
of the big hotel, they soon forgot such thoughts in the joys of the
moment.

There was seabathing every day and automobile trips and all sorts of
beach fun and frolic.

The time was drawing near for them to go back to Berwick and settle down
again to the routine of home life.

Among the last of the season's gaieties there was to be a children's
dance in the big ball-room. This was a regular summer feature and all
the guests of the hotel did their best to make the occasion attractive.

All under sixteen were considered children, and even some of the little
tots were allowed to attend the festival. Fancy dress was not
obligatory, but many of the young people chose to wear gay costumes.

The two Cliftons, the Brown twins and Dolly and Dotty had come to be a
clique by themselves, and were always together.

"Let's dress alike for the silly party," said Clifford, who liked to
appear scornful of such amusements, but who was really very fond of
them.

"All right; how shall we dress?" said Dotty, who was always ready for
dressing up.

"A shepherdess costume is the prettiest thing you can wear," said
Pauline. "I have one with me, and it's lovely. S'pose you two girls copy
that, and then have the boys rig up something like it."

"Mother will make us any old togs we want," said Tad, "It isn't a
masquerade, is it?"

"Oh, no," said Dolly; "just fancy dress, you know, if you choose, and
lots of them just wear regular party clothes."

"I'd like to be a shepherdess, all right," said Tad with a comical
simpering smile.

"Now don't you make fun of my plan!" said Pauline; "we three girls can
be shepherdesses, and you three boys can be shepherds. Shepherd lads are
lovely, with pipes and things."

"Clay pipes?" asked Tod.

"No, goosy; pipes to play on. Long ones with ribbons; oh, 'twill be
lovely!" and Pauline clapped her hands. "Liza will make you a suit,
Carroll, and then the other boys can have it copied."

There was much further discussion and the elders were called into
consultation, but finally Pauline's plan was adopted.

Her shepherdess' frock was dainty and beautiful. The Dresden flowered
overdress was of silk, looped above a quilted satin petticoat, a