t for the "pool," which was quite knee deep at
this time of year.

Once there, she turned to view her followers, and it wouldn't have been
Patricia, if she hadn't slipped and, with a little shriek of surprise,
sat right down in the pool.

There was a moment's hesitation, then Nell boldly followed suit; one by
one, ending with Susy, the other five dropped down in the cool rippling
water, which seemed to laugh, as if it saw the joke.

"Oh!" Patricia cried, "I never meant--" She was on her feet as quickly
as possible. Susy was just the kind to go and catch cold, why she had
begun to shiver and shake already.

The next few moments were strenuous ones for Patricia's followers. Never
had she led them such a chase, through all the hottest, sunniest parts
of the big meadow.

"We've got to run, so as not to catch cold," she panted; and run
they did, their wet skirts flapping against their bare legs, hats and
sunbonnets sent scattering in every direction. While Custard, regarding
it as a game gotten up for his especial benefit, urged them on, barking
and leaping about them, taking little pretend nips at the seven sets of
bare toes, choosing Susy's the oftenest, because she always squealed
the loudest.

At last the seven dropped down breathless in the middle of the meadow.
Patricia felt of Susy's skirts anxiously. "They're 'most dry; let's--"
She turned over on her face, and the six followed suit once more.

"The sun feels good, doesn't it," Susy said, she was on one side of
Patricia. "I'm having a be-au-ti-ful time!"

Patricia raised herself on her elbows, and, chin in hand, surveyed Susy
closely. "Truly true?"

"Truly true," Susy insisted.

Patricia smiled approvingly; and, when she liked, Patricia's smile could
be very approving indeed. "I guess maybe I'm going to like knowing you,"
she said.

Susy's little pink and white face had lost its look of peaceful
placidity, her yellow curls their smoothness. Wet, bedraggled, but
happier than ever before in her life, and joyfully conscious that she
had for once boldly strayed from the narrow path of harmless routine,
she smiled back at Patricia.

"I guess we're all dry now," Patricia said presently. "It seems to me as
if it must be pretty near supper time."

Nell spread out her limp skirts. "Pretty looking set, we are, to go to
supper!"

But Patricia was thinking. "A gingham apron party supper ought to be
different," she said slowly; "Nell, let's you and me go get th