zing his hand.

"Well," said Hugh, "I'll go and make my expiation. Again. I seem to be
always doing it. I tell you what it is, K, if I injure that girl again
I'll have to marry her."

He went swinging off at a comfortable jog-trot down the path, his bottle
sticking out from beneath one arm.

A look of thoughtful surprise dawned in Kate's eyes.

"And upon my soul you might do worse," she said--"you might do worse."

CHAPTER XXIV

AT THE SECOND FALL

Miss Bibby had prepared a delightful meal for her charges from the
generous hamper the caddies carried down to her. Slices of chicken lay
in nests of finely shredded lettuce with a delicate cream dressing
lightly poured on top. A mountain of ruddy strawberries formed a
centrepiece,--delicious and novel cakes made side dishes, jellies
quivered and reflected on their sides the foaming waterfall. While here,
there and everywhere were scattered evidences of the high skill
chocolate manufacturers are attaining to--hatchets, saws, garden rakes,
dolls' tea-sets, animals of every description--all in the most
delightful kind of chocolate.

The children buzzed round the tables like eager flies, but Miss Bibby
would not have them begin until their host had paid the visit he had
promised.

"But I may as well get mine over," she said, "and then I can help all of
you. And it would be too depressing for you, wouldn't it, Paul, to see
me eating what you think my poor meal while you revel in all these
delicacies?" She got out her tiny basket and hastily emptied the
contents of one of the packets on to a plate.

"Dear, darling Miss Bibby," implored Lynn, clinging suddenly to her, "do
eat something nice, just to-day. Oh do, do throw your horrid basket
away, and eat really truly food for once."

"I can't, darling--I really can't," said Miss Bibby, quite distressed at
having to refuse such a lovingly-put plea; "some other day,--next time
you have a picnic. But not to-day." She almost said "Not _his_ food."

"Here he comes, here he comes," shrieked the children.

"Can I begin--can I have a lawberry?" cried Max, fairly dancing in his
impatience.

Hugh came down wiping his hot face with his handkerchief. He took in the
scene at a glance,--the eager children, waiting for him before they
began, Miss Bibby seated at the adjacent slab table where she had piled
the empty hampers, hastily eating a poor meal from a plate before her.

"Fall to, chickens," said Hugh, and the four c