spent quietly enough, four of the party at
parcheesi, the others busy over crokinole and jackstraws; but by and by
there was a cry of "Boston!" and instantly boards and counters were put
away on their shelf, and the decks cleared for action. The whole party
drew their chairs into a circle, and the fun began. A pleasant sight it
was to see Mr. Merryweather blindfold in the middle of the circle,
calling out the numbers two by two, and trying to catch the flitting
figures as they changed places. A pleasant sight it was to see the
young people leaping, crouching, and gliding across the circle, avoiding
his outstretched arms with surprising agility.

"Two and Fourteen!" he would cry; and Gerald and Bell would slip from
their places, like shadows. Gerald was across in two long, noiseless
lopes, while Bell whisked under her father's very hand, which almost
closed on her flying skirt; and a shout of "All over!" greeted the
accomplishment of the exchange.

"This will never do!" said Mr. Merryweather. "You all have quicksilver
in your heels, I believe. Seven and Twelve! Come Seven, come Twelve!"

Seven and Twelve were Jack Ferrers and Peggy, and they came. Jack,
gathering his long legs under him, crept on all fours half-way round the
circle, and then made a plunge for the chair which Peggy had just
vacated. He landed on the edge, and over went chair and Jack into the
fireplace with a resounding crash. This startled Peggy so that she ran
directly into Mr. Merryweather's arms, and was caught and firmly held.

"Let me see!" said Mr. Merryweather. "One pigtail! But I believe all you
wretched girls dress your hair precisely alike for 'Boston.' Ha!
peculiar sleeve-buttons! Now who has buttons like these? Peggy!"

Then it was Peggy's turn to be blindfolded, and a vigorous "_Colin
Maillard_" she made, flying hither and thither, and coming within an ace
of catching Gerald himself, who was rarely caught. Finally she seized a
flying pigtail belonging to Kitty; and so the merry game went on till
all were out of breath with running and laughing.

Phil went to the door to breathe the cool air, and came back with the
announcement, "All clear overhead, perfectly corking moonlight. Why do
we stay indoors?"

"Canoes!" cried the younger Merryweathers; and there was a rush for the
door; but the Chief stopped them with a gesture. "Too late!" he said.
"It is nine o'clock now; time you were in bed, Kitty."

"We might sit on the float and sing