a summer in a canyon-第14部分

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Just　consider　we　were　'six　miles　from　a　lemon；'　as　Sydney　Smith　would
say；　and　yet　we　transformed　all　out　of　doors；　first　into　an　elegant
interior；　and　then　into　a　conventional　stage　forest。

A　great　deal　of　work　is　available　for　other　performances；　and　so　we
do　not　regret　it　a　bit；　we　propose　doing　'As　You　Like　It'　again　when
you　are　down　here；　and　meanwhile　we　give　diversified　entertainments
which　Jack　calls　variety　shows；　but　which　in　reality　are　very　chaste
and　elegant　occasions。

The　other　night　we　had　a　minstrel　show；　wearing　masks　of　black
cambric；　with　red　mouths　painted　on　them；　you　should　have　seen　us；
all　in　a　dusky　semicircle；　seated　on　boards　supported　by　nail…kegs：
it　was　a　scene　better　imagined　than　described。　　This　is　certainly　the
ideal　way　to　live　in　summer…time；　and　we　should　be　perfectly　happy
and　content　if　you　could　only　shake　off　your　troublesome　cough　and
come　to　share　our　pleasure。　　We　feel　incomplete　without　you；　and　no
matter　how　large　our　party　may　grow　as　the　summer　progresses；　there
will　always　be　a　vacant　niche　that　none　can　fill　save　the　dear　little
Saint　who　is　always　enshrined　therein　by　all　her　loyal　worshippers；
and　by　none　more　reverently　than　her　friend；

PHILIP　S。　NOBLE。


III。　　THE　KNIGHT　OF　THE　SPECTACLES　TAKES　THE　QUILL。


This　paper　is　writ　unto　her　most　Royal　Highness；　our　beloved　Gold
Elsie；　Queen　of　our　thoughts　and　Empress　of　all　hearts。

You　must　know；　most　noble　Lady；　that　one　who　is　your　next　of　kin　and
high　in　the　royal　favour　has　laid　upon　us　a　most　difficult　and
embarrassing　task。

In　our　capacity　as　Director　of　the　Court　Games；　we　humbly　suggested
the　subjects　for　the　weekly　bulletin　which　your　Highness　commanded　to
be　written；　but；　alas；　with　indifferent　success；　for　the　Courtiers
growled　and　the　Ladies…in…waiting　howled　at　the　topics　given　them　for
consideration。

On　soliciting　our　own　subjects　from　the　Privy　Councillor　and　Knight
of　the　Brush；　Lord　John　Howard；　he　revengefully　ordered　me　to　'edify'
your　Majesty　with　wise　utterances；　as　if　such　poor；　rude　words　as
mine　could　please　the　ear　that　should　only　listen　to　the　singing　of
birds；　the　babbling　of　brooks；　or　the　silvery　tongue　of　genius！

When　may　your　devoted　subjects　hope　to　see　their　gracious　Sovereign
again　in　their　midst？

The　court　is　fast　drifting　into　dangerous　informalities　of　conduct。
The　Princess　Bell…Pepper　partakes　of　the　odoriferous　onion　at　each
noon…day　meal；　so　that　a　royal　salute　would　be　impossible；　the　hands
of　the　Countess　Paulina　look　as　if　you　might　have　chosen　one　of　your
attendants　from　'Afric's　sunny　fountains；　or　India's　coral　strand'；
and　as　for　the　Court　Chaplain；　Rev。　Jack…in…the…Pulpit；　he　has
woefully　forsaken　the　manners　of　the　'cloth；'　and　insists　upon
retaining　his　ancient　title　of　Knight　of　the　Brush；　the　Duchess　of
Sweet　Marjoram　alone　continues　circumspect　in　walk　and　mien；　for
blood　will　tell；　and　she　is　more　Noble　than　the　others。

In　our　capacity　of　Court　Physician　we　have　thrice　relieved　your
youthful　page；　Sir　Dicky　Winship；　of　indigestion；　caused　by　too
generous　indulgence　in　the　flowing　bowlof　milk　and　cherries；　we
have　also　prescribed　for　his　grace　the　Duke　of　Noble；　whose　ducal　ear
was　poisoned　by　the　insidious　oak　leaf。

Your　private　box　awaits　you　in　the　Princess'　Theatre；　and　your
Majesty's　special　interpreters　of　the　drama　will　celebrate　your
arrival　as　gorgeously　as　it　deserves。

The　health　of　our　dearly　beloved　Sovereign　engages　the　constant
thought　of　all　her　loyal　and　adoring　subjects；　they　hope　ere　long　to
cull　a　wreath　of　laurel　with　their　own　hands　and　place　it　on　a　brow
which　needs　naught　but　its　golden　crown　of　hair　to　affirm　its　queenly
dignity。　　And　as　for　crown　jewels；　has　not　our　Empress　of　Hearts　a
full　store？two　dazzling　sapphires；　her　eyes；　a　string　of　pearls；
her　teeth；　her　lips　two　rubies；　and　when　she　opens　them；　diamonds　of
wisdom　issue　therefrom！

Come！　and　let　the　sight　of　thy　royal　charms　gladden　the　eyes　of　thy
waiting　people！　　Issued　under　the　hand　of

SIR　GEOFFREY　STRONG；　Bart。；
Court　Physician　and　Knight　of　the　Spectacles。


IV。　　MARGERY'S　CONTRIBUTION。


COSY　NOOK；　July　11；　188…　。

My　own　dear　Elsie；Your　weekly　chronicle　is　almost　ready　for
Monday's　stage；　and　I　am　allowed　to　come　in　at　the　close　with　as　many
pages　of　'gossip'　as　I　choose；　which　means　that　I　may　run　on　to　my
heart's　content　and　tell　you　all　the　little　things　that　happen　in　the
chinks　between　the　great　ones；　for　Uncle　Doc　has　refused　to　read　this
part　of　the　letter。

First　for　some　commissions：　　Aunt　Truth　asks　if　your　mother　will
kindly　select　goods　and　engage　Mrs。　Perkins　to　make　us　each　a　couple
of　Scotch　gingham　dresses。　　She　has　our　measures；　and　we　wish　them
simple；　full…skirted　gowns；　like　the　last；　everybody　thinks　them　so
pretty　and　becoming。　　Bell's　two　must　be　buff　and　pink；　Polly's　grey
and　green；　and　mine　blue　and　brown。　　We　find　that　we　haven't　clothes
enough　for　a　three　months'　stay；　and　the　out…of…door　life　is　so　hard
upon　our　'forest　suits'　that　we　have　asked　Mrs。　Perkins　to　send　us
new　ones　as　soon　as　possible。

We　have　had　a　very　busy　and　exciting　week　since　Polly　began　this
letter；　for　there　have　been　various　interruptions　and　an　unusual
number　of　visitors。

First；　there　was　our　mountain　climb　to　the　top　of　Pico　Negro；　Phil
says　he　has　written　you　about　that；　but　I　hardly　believe　he　mentioned
that　he　and　the　other　boys　worried　us　sadly　by　hanging　on　to　the
tails　of　our　horses　as　they　climbed　up　the　steepest　places。　　To　be
sure　they　were　so　awfully　tired　that　I　couldn't　help　pitying　them；
but　Uncle　Doc　had　tried　to　persuade　them　not　to　walk；　so　that　it　was
their　own　fault　after　all。　　You　cannot　imagine　what　a　dreadful
feeling　it　gives　one　to　be　climbing　a　slippery；　rocky　path；　and　know
that　a　great　heavy　boy　is　pulling　your　horse　backwards　by　the　tail。
Polly　insisted　that　she　heard　her　mule's　tail　break　loose　from　its
moorings；　and　on　measuring　it　when　she　got　back　to　camp　she　found　it
three　inches　longer　than　usual。

The　mule　acted　like　original　sin　all　day；　and　Polly　was　so　completely
worn…out　that　she　went　to　bed　at　five　o'clock；　Jack　was　a　good　deal
the　worse　for　wear　too；　so　that　they　got　on　beautifully　all　day。　　It
is　queer　that　they　irritate　each　other　so；　for　I　am　sure　that　there
is　no　lack　of　real　friendship　between　them；　but　Jack　is　a　confirmed
tease；　and　he　seems　to　keep　all　his　mischief　bottled　up　for　especial
use　with　Polly。　　I　have　tried　to　keep　him　out　of　trouble；　as　you
asked　me；　and　although　it　gives　me　plenty　to　do；　I　am　succeeding
tolerably　well；　except　in　his　dealings　with　Polly。　　I　lecture　him
continually；　but　'every　time　he　opens　his　mouth　he　puts　his　foot　in
it。'

Polly　was　under　a　cloud　the　first　of　the　week。　　Villikins　was　sick；
and　Dr。　Winship　sent　her　to　Aunt　Truth　for　a　bottle　of　sweet　oil。
Aunt　Truth　was　not　in　sight；　so　Polly　went　to　the　box　of　stores　and
emptied　a　whole　quart　bottle　of　salad　oil　into　a　pail；　and　Villikins
had　to　take　it；　WHEEL　OR　WHOA　（Jack's　joke！）。　　Auntie　went　to　make
the　salad　dressing　at　dinner…time；　and　discovered　her　loss　and
Polly's　mistake。　　It　was　the　last　bottle；　and　as　we　can't　get　any
more　for　a　week；　the　situation　was　serious；　and　she　was　very　much
tried。　　Poor　Polly　had　a　good　cry　over　her　carelessness；　and　came　to
the　dinner…table　in　a　very　sensitive　frame　of　mind。　　Then　what　should
Jack　do　but　tell　Dicky　to　take　Villikins　a　head　of　lettuce　for　his
supper；　and　ask　Polly　why　she　didn't　change　his　name　from　Villikins
to　Salad…in！　　Polly　burst　into　tears；　and　left　the　table；　while　Dr。
Paul　gave　Jack　a　scolding；　which　I　really　think　he　deserved；　though
it　was　a　good　joke。　　The　next　morning；　the　young　gentleman　put　on　a
pair　of　old　white　cotton　gloves　and　his　best　hat；　gathered　her　a
bouquet　of　wild　flowers；　and　made　her　a　handsome　apology　before　the
whole　party；　so　she　forgave　him；　and　they　are　friendsuntil　the　next
quarrel。

On　the　night　before　the　play；　Laura　and　Scott　Burton　arrived　on
horseback；　and　the　next　morning　the　rest　of　the　family　appeared　on
the　scene。　　We　had　sent　over　to　see　if　Laura　would　play　Audrey　on　so
short　notice；　and　bring　over　some　odds　and　ends　for　costumes。　　We
actually　had　an　audience　of　sixteen　persons；　and　we　had　no　idea　of
playing　before　anybody　but　Aunt　Truth　and　Dicky。

There　were　three　of　the　Burtons；　Pancho；　Hop　Yet；　the　people　from　the
dairy　farm；　and　a　university　professor　from　Berkeley；　with　eight
students。　　They　were　on　a　walking　tour；　and　were　just　camping　for　the
night　when　Scott　and　Jack　met　them；　and　invited　them　over　to　the
performance。　　Geoffrey　and　Phil　were　acquainted　with　three　of　them；
and　Uncle　Paul　knew　the　professor。

Laura；　Anne；　and　Scott　went　home　the　next　morning；　but　came　back　in
two　days　for　their　week's　visit。　　The　boys　like　Scott　very　much；　he
falls　right　into　the　camp　ways；　and　doesn't　disturb　the　even　current
of　our　life；　and　Anne；　who　is　a　sweet　little　girl　of　twelve；　has
quite　taken　Dicky　under　her　wing；　much　to　our　relief。

With　Laura's　advent；　however；　a　change　came　over　the　spirit　of　our
dreams；　and；　to　tell　the　truth；　we　are　not　over　and　above　pleased
with　it。　　By　the　way；　she　spent　last　summer　at　the　hotel；　and　you
must　have　seen　her；　did　you　not？　　Anyway；　Mrs。　Burton　and　Aunt　Truth
were　old　school　friends；　and　Bell　has　known　Laura　for　two　years；　but
they　will　never　follow　in　their　mothers'　footsteps。　　Laura　is　so
different　from　her　mother　that　I　should　never　think　they　were
relations；　and　she　has　managed　to　change　all　our　arrangements　in　some
mysterious　way　which　we　can't　understand。　　I　get　on　very　well　with
her；　she　positively　showers　favours　upon　me；　and　I　more　than　half
suspect　it　is　because　she　thinks　I　don't　amount　to　much。　　As　for　the
others；　she　rubs　Polly　the　wrong　way；　and　I　believe　she　is　a　little
bit　jealous　of　Bell。

You　see；　she　is　several　months　older　than　the　rest　of　us；　and　has
spent　two　winters　in　San　Francisco；　where　she　went　out　a　great　deal
to　parties　and　theatres；　so　that　her　ideas　are　entirely　different
from　ours。

She　wants　every　single　bit　of　attentionone　boy　to　help　her　over　the
brooks；　one　to　cut　walking…sticks　for　her；　a