re is nothing on earth the matter with Aunt Harriet," said Margery.
"They didn't go into the cabin; I saw them walking away down the shore."

"How would you like to walk that way?" he asked. "I think their example is
a very good one."

"It is capital," said Margery, jumping up, "and let's get away quickly
before she comes back."

They hurried away, but they did not extend their walk down the lake shore
even as far as Mr. and Mrs. Archibald had already gone. When they came to
the bit of beach behind the clump of trees where the bishop had retired
that afternoon to read, they stopped and sat down to watch the moonlight
on the water.

Matlack and Mrs. Perkenpine were now the only persons at the camp-fire,
for Bill Hammond, as was his custom, had promptly gone to bed as soon as
his work was done. If Arthur Raybold had intended to come to the
camp-fire, he had changed his mind, for he now stood near his sister's
tent, apparently awaiting the approach of Corona and the bishop, who had
not found the Archibalds, and who were now walking together in what might
have been supposed, by people who did not know the lady, to be an earnest
dialogue.

Mr. Matlack was seated on his log, and he smoked, while Mrs. Perkenpine
sat on the ground, her head thrown back and her arms hugging her knees.

"Phil," said she, "that there moon looks to me like an oyster with a
candle behind it, and as smooth and slippery as if I could jest swallow it
down. You may think it is queer for me to think such things as that, Phil,
but since I've come to know myself jest as I am, me, I've found out
feelin's--"

"Mrs. Perkenpine," said Matlack, knocking the ashes out of his pipe,
"there's a good many things besides moons that I can't swallow, and if
it's all the same to you, I'll go to bed."

"Well," she exclaimed, looking after him, "his individdlety is the
snapshortest I ever did see! I don't believe he wants to know hisself. If
he did, I'm dead sure I could help him. He never goes out to run a camp
without somebody to help him, and yet he's so everlastin' blind he can't
see the very best person there is to help him, and she a-plumpin' herself
square in front of him every time she gits a chance." With that reflection
she rose and walked away.

"I tell you, Harriet," said Mr. Archibald, when he and his wife had
returned from their walk and were about to enter the cabin, "something
must be done to enable us to spend the rest of our time here in peace.