Get
up a school, sir, and I'll come myself, and be a boy again."

"That is a great inducement," said Mr. Merryweather, laughing: "but,
Colonel, I hope you have brought a boy's appetite with you, at least.
Who are the cooks to-night, Miranda? Oh, I see; Bell and Jack. Well,
that is all right, Colonel; they make one of our best combinations. What
have you there, Jack?"

Jack, in a white cap, and an apron reaching not quite half-way to his
knees, advanced bearing a mighty dish, from which rose fragrant steam.

"H'm! ha!" said the Colonel, sniffing. "Smells good! you had no hand in
this, I'll be bound, sir!"

"Indeed, Colonel Ferrers," said Bell, who followed with the teapot and a
plate piled high with feathery rolls, "it is all Jack's doing, every
bit. It is his famous pilaff, that the old Greek professor taught him
to make in Germany; and it is almost the best thing you ever tasted in
your life."

"H'm!" said the Colonel, frowning heavily, and looking immensely
pleased. "So this is what he was doing while he was supposed to be
studying. I always knew the rascal was deceiving me. Ha! it _is_ good;
it's uncommon good! So you did learn something besides fiddling, eh,
Jack?"

"Cooking is a part of chemistry, Uncle," said Jack, soberly; "a very
important part. This dish is chemically prepared, sir; please regard it
as a demonstration!"

"And please try my fried potatoes as a further demonstration!" said
Bell. "Margaret, you are not eating anything."

"She never does!" said Peggy.

"Oh!" cried Margaret, "but I never ate so much before. Oh, please not!"
as Phil tried to heap her plate with potatoes. "They are delicious, but
I really cannot!"

"I can!" said Gertrude, holding out her plate.

"I'll warrant you!" said Phil. "No one doubted that, sweet Chuck!"

"We do not look for the Camp Appetite till after twenty-four hours,"
said Mrs. Merryweather. "Give Margaret time! in two days she will eat
twice as much as she does now."

"Harry Monmouth!" exclaimed the Colonel. "At that rate, it is fortunate
for you all that I do not outstay my two days. Twice as much as I am
eating now would clear your larder, dear madam. Yes, thanks,
Merryweather, a little more!"

"Oh, Colonel Ferrers!"

"Oh, Uncle Tom! you are not going away in two days? We counted on a week
at least!" cried all in chorus.

"Impossible, dear people, impossible! Like nothing better; enchanted to
stay all summer; delightful place. But--Elizabeth Beadl