place the first.

The little party landed with cries of pleasure, and the next thing, set
off on a run for the house. David purposely hung back, so that he and
Matilda in a few minutes were behind all the others.

"Where is everybody?" inquired David.

"I don't know."

"What have you been doing all this while?"

"It was very pretty down by the water, David. I didn't mind;--at least,
not after the first. It was very pleasant there."

"All alone?"

"Yes; except the fishes and the grasshoppers."

"Well--I shall cut out the fishes now."

David kept his word. A deputation of the boys met them and begged him
to go where the others were riding. David went, but kept hold of
Matilda's hand, though warned that "the girls" were finding other
amusements in the house. Matilda was taken into the meadow where the
boys and the horses were congregated; a safe seat was found for her on
the wall, from whence she could survey the whole field; and though
David took his share in the amusements that followed, riding and racing
with the other boys, he never let her feel herself forgotten or alone;
stopping his horse every now and then in front of her to say something
and find out if she was happy. Matilda was very happy, greatly amused,
and intensely pleased that David had constituted himself her protector.
The hours sped along; the soft June sun was never too hot; the little
white clouds that crossed the sky cast shadows not needed for the busy
pleasure seekers, nor even for the quiet spectator. At last Matilda
heard a shout behind her.

CHAPTER XV.

"What _are_ you doing, you boyish girl?" It was Judy, at the head of
the whole bevy of young ones from the house.

"I didn't know what had become of you, Matilda," said Esther.

"Come down!" said Judy. "What business have you there? Who asked you to
watch the boys? Why don't you come down? On the wall, too! Esther
didn't invite you there."

"Esther didn't invite me anywhere," said Matilda, with the old
inevitable set of her head, which said much more than the little girl
knew. Esther felt it, and Judy was incensed.

"I _would_ be ashamed, if I were you," she said. "Tell the boys, will
you, that we are ready for the games. Call somebody. Shout! now you are
up there, make yourself useful."

Matilda preferred not to shout. Instead of that, she waved her
handkerchief. David rode up, the message was given. Then Norton came to
help Matilda down from the wall; and soon the