e was obliged to spring
precipitately down to avoid a fall. "It made a capital conclusion,
however, though not quite what I had proposed. Well, gentlemen," as
four or five of the boys came up, each bearing a huge holly bush--"Well,
gentlemen, you are a sight for sair een."

"With sair fingers, you mean," said Fred; "these bushes scratch like
half a dozen wild cats."

"It is in too good a cause for me to pity you," said Beatrice.

"Nor would I accept it if you would," said Fred.

His sister, however, seemed determined on bestowing it whether he would
or not,--"How your hands are bleeding! Have you any thorns in them? Let
me see, I have my penknife."

"Stuff!" was Fred's gracious reply, as he glanced at Alex and Carey.

"But why did you not put on your gloves?" proceeded Henrietta.

"Gloves, nonsense!" said Fred, who never went without them at Rocksand.

"He will take up the gauntlet presently," said Beatrice. "By the by,
Alex, how many pairs of gloves have you had or lost in your life?"

"O, I always keep a pair for Sundays and for Allonfield," said Alex.

"Jessie says she will never let me drive her again without them," said
Carey, "but trust me for that: I hate them, they are such girl's things;
I tell her then she can't be driven."

Fred could not bear to hear of Carey's driving, a thing which he had not
yet been permitted to attempt, and he hastily broke in, "You have not
told the news yet."

"What news?"

"The Euphrosyne is coming home," cried the boys with one voice. "Had we
not told you? The Euphrosyne is coming home, and Roger may be here any
day!"

"That is something like news," said Queen Bee; "I thought it would
only be that the puppies could see, or that Tom's tooth was through.
Grandpapa has not heard it?"

"Papa is going up to tell him," said John. "I was going too, only Alex
bagged me to carry his holly-bush."

"And so the great Rogero is coming home!" said Beatrice. "How you will
learn to talk sea slang! And how happy grandmamma will be, especially
if he comes in time for her great affair. Do you hear, Alex? you must
practise your steps, for grandmamma is going to give a grand party,
Careys and Evanses, and all, on purpose to gratify Fred's great love of
dancing."

"I love dancing?" exclaimed Fred, in a tone of astonishment and
contempt.

"Why, did you not look quite enraptured at breakfast when it was
proposed? I expected you every moment to ask the honour of my hand for
the first