a summer in a canyon-第22部分

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better　fortune　next　time。'

'There　are　eight　more　of　them　burning　on　the　griddles　this　moment；
Polly；'　said　Bell；　scathingly；　'and　as　they　are　yours；　not　mine；　I
advise　you　to　throw　them　in　the　brook；　with　the　rest　of　the　batter；
so　that　Hop　Yet　won't　know　that　there　has　been　a　failure。'

'Some　people　blight　everything　they　touch；'　sighed　Polly；　gloomily；
as　she　departed　for　the　kitchen。


'But　when　I　lie　in　the　green　kirkyard　…


'Oh；　Polly；　dear；'　interrupted　Margery；　'that　apology　will　not　serve
any　longer；　you've　used　it　too　often。'

'This　is　going　to　be　entirely　different；'　continued　Polly；
tragically。


'But　when　I　lie　in　the　green　kirkyard；
　　　With　the　mould　upon　my　breasts
Say　not　that　she　made　flapjacks　well；
　　　Only；　she　did　her　best。'


'We　promise！'　cried　Bell。



CHAPTER　VII：　　POLLY'S　BIRTHDAY：　　FIRST　HALF
IN　WHICH　SHE　REJOICES　AT　THE　MERE　FACT　OF　HER　EXISTENCE。



'〃O　frabjous　day！　　Calooh！　　Callay！〃
He　chortled　in　his　joy。'


Polly's　birthday　dawned　auspiciously。　　At　six　o'clock　she　was　kissed
out　of　a　sound　sleep　by　Bell　and　Margery；　and　the　three　girls　slipped
on　their　wrappers；　and　prepared　to　run　through　the　trees　for　a
morning　plunge　in　Mirror　Pool。　　Although　it　was　August　there　was
still　water　enough　in　Minnehaha　Brook　to　give　one　a　refreshing　dip。
Mirror　Pool　was　a　quarter　of　a　mile　distant　and　well　guarded　with
rocks　and　deep　hidden　in　trees；　but　a　little　pathway　had　been　made　to
the　water's　edge；　and　thus　the　girls　had　easy　access　to　what　they
called　The　Mermaid's　Bath。　　A　bay…tree　was　adorned　with　a　little
redwood　sign；　which　bore　a　picture　of　a　mermaid；　drawn　by　Margery；
and　below　the　name　these　lines　in　rustic　letters：…


　　　'A　hidden　brook；
That　to　the　sleeping　woods　all　night
Singeth　a　quiet　tune。'


Laura　had　not　lived　long　enough　in　the　woods　to　enjoy　these　cold
plunges；　and；　as　her　ideal　was　a　marble　tub；　with　scented　water；　and
a　French　maid　to　apply　the　same　with　a　velvet　sponge；　it　is　not　much
wonder。　　She　insisted　that；　though　it　was　doubtless　a　very　romantic
proceeding；　the　bottom　and　sides　of　the　natural　tub　were　quite　too
rocky　and　rough　for　her　taste；　and　that　she　should　be　in　constant
terror　of　snakes　curling　round　her　toes。

'I've　a　great　mind　to　wake　Laura；　just　for　once；'　said　Bell；　opening
the　tent　door。　　'There　never　was　such　a　morning！　　（I　believe　I've
said　that　regularly　every　day；　but　I　simply　never　can　get　used　to
it。）　　There　must　have　been　a　wonderful　sunrise；　dears；　for　the　glow
hasn't　faded　yet。　　Not　a　bit　of　morning　fogthat's　good　for　Elsie。
And　what　a　lovely　day　for　a　birthday！　　Did　they　use　to　give　you
anything　like　this　in　Vermont；　Polly？'

'Hardly；'　said　Polly；　peering　over　Bell's　shoulder。　　'Let's　see。
What　did　they　give　us　in　Vermont　this　month？　　Why；　I　can't　think　of
anything　but　dog…days；　hot　nights；　and　hay　fever；　but　that　sounds
ungrateful。　　Why；　Geoff's　up　already！　　There's　Elsie's　bunch　of
vines；　and　twigs；　and　pretty　things　hanging　on　her　tent…door。　　He's
been　off　on　horseback。　　Just　my　luck　to　have　him　get　up　first。　　Jack
always　does；　you　know；　and　last　night　I　sewed　up　the　tent…opening
with　carpet…thread；　good　and　tight；　overhandstitches　I　wouldn't　be
ashamed　of　at　a　sewing…school。'

'Oh　you　naughty　girl！'　laughed　Bell。　　'The　boys　could　rip　it　open
with　a　knife　in　half　the　time　it　took　you　to　sew　it。'

'Certainly。　　I　didn't　mean　to　keep　them　sewed　up　all　day；　but　I
thought　I'd　like　Jack　to　remember　me　the　first　thing　this　morning。'

'Girls；'　whispered　Margery；　excitedly；　'don't　stand　there　mooningor
sunningfor　ever！　　I　thought　there　was　a　gopher　in　this　tent　last
night。　　I　heard　something　scratching；　and　I　thought　it　was　the　dog
outside；　but　just　look　at　these　two　holes　almost　under　Laura's
pillow！'

'Let's　fill　them　up；　cover　them　overanything！'　gasped　Bell。　　'Laura
will　never　sleep　here　another　night　if　she　sees　them。'

'Nobody　insured　Laura　against　gophers；'　said　Polly。　　'She　must　take
the　fortunes　of　war。'

'I　wouldn't　wake　her；'　said　Margery。　　'She　didn't　sleep　well；　and　her
face　is　flushed。　　Come；　or　we　shall　be　late　for　breakfast。'

When　they　returned；　fresh　and　rosy；　from　their　bath；　there　was　a　stir
of　life　in　all　the　tents。　　Pancho　had　come　from　the　stage…station
with　mail；　an　odour　of　breakfast　issued　from　the　kitchen；　where　Hop
Yet　was　humming　a　fragment　of　Chinese　song；　that　ran　something　like
this；not　loud；　but　unearthly　enough；　as　Bell　used　to　say；　to　spoil
almost　any　cooking：…

＇Music　follows＇
Fong　fong　mongmong　tiu　he　sun　yi…u
sow　chong　how　ki…u　me　yun　tan…tar　che　ku　choi　song！


Dicky　was　abroad；　radiant　in　a　new　suit　of　clothes；　and　Elsie　pushed
her　golden　head　out　between　the　curtains；　and　proclaimed　herself
strong　enough　for　a　wrestling…match　with　any　boy　or　man　about　the
camp。

But　they　found　Laura　sitting　on　the　edge　of　her　straw　bed；　directly
over　the　concealed　gopher…holes；　a　mirror　in　her　hand　and　an
expression　of　abject　misery　on　her　countenance。

'What's　the　matter？'　cried　the　girls　in　one　breath。　　But　they　needed
no　answer；　as　she　turned　her　face　towards　the　light；　for　it　was
plainly　a　case　of　poison…oakone　eye　almost　closed；　and　the　cheek
scarlet　and　swollen。

'Where　do　you　suppose　you　got　it？'　asked　Bell。

'Oh；　I　don't　know。　　It's　everywhere；　so　I　don't　see　how　I　ever　hoped
to　escape　it。　　Yet　I've　worn　gloves　every　minute。　　I　think　I　must
have　touched　it　when　I　went　up　the　mountain　trail　with　Jack。　　I'm　a
perfect　fright　already；　and　I　suppose　it　has　only　begun。'

'Is　it　very　painful？'　asked　Polly；　sympathetically。　　'Oh；　you　do　look
so　funny；　I　can　hardly　help　laughing；　but　I'm　as　sorry　as　I　can　be。'

'I　should　expect　you　to　laughyou　generally　do；'　retorted　Laura。
'No；　it's　not　painful　yet；　but　I　don't　care　about　thatit's　looking
so　ridiculous。　　I　wonder　if　Dr。　Winship　could　send　me　home。　　I　wish
now　that　I　had　gone　with　Scott；　for　I　can't　be　penned　up　in　this　tent
a　week。'

'Oh；　it　won't　hurt　you　to　go　out；'　said　Bell；　'and　you　can　lie　in　the
sitting…room。　　Just　wait；　and　let　mamma　try　and　cure　you。　　She's　a
famous　doctor。'　　And　Bell　finished　dressing　hurriedly；　and　went　to
her　mother's　tent；　while　Polly　and　Margery　smoothed　the　bed　with　a
furtive　kick　of　straw　over　the　offending　gopher…holes；　and　hung　a
dark　shawl　so　as　to　shield　Laura's　eyes。

Aunt　Truth　entered　speedily；　with　a　family　medical　guide　under　one
arm；　and　a　box　of　remedies　under　the　other。

'The　doctor　has　told　me　just　what　to　do；　and　he　will　see　you　after
breakfast　himself。　　It　doesn't　look　so　very　bad　a　case；　dear；　don't
run　about　in　the　sun　for　a　day　or　two；　and　we'll　bring　you　out　all
right。　　The　doctor　has　had　us　all　under　treatment　at　some　time　or
other；　because　of　that　troublesome　little　plant。'

'I　don't　want　to　get　up　to　breakfast；'　moaned　Laura。

'Just　as　you　like。　　But　it　is　Polly's　birthday；　you　know　（many　happy
returns；　my　sweet　Pollykins）；　and　there　are　great　preparations　going
on。'

'I　can't　help　it；　Mrs。　Winship。　　The　boys　would　make　fun　of　my　looks；
and　I　shouldn't　blame　them。'

'Appear　as　the　Veiled　Lady；'　suggested　Margery；　as　Mrs。　Winship　went
out。

'I　won't　come；　and　that's　the　end　of　it；'　said　Laura。　　'Perhaps　if　I
bathe　my　face　all　the　morning　I　can　come　to　dinner。'

After　breakfast　was　cleared　away；　Hop　Yet　and　Mrs。　Howard's　little
China　boy　Gin　were　given　a　half…holiday；　and　allowed　to　go　to　a
neighbouring　ranch　to　see　a　'flend'　of　Hop　Yet's；　for　it　was　a　part
of　the　birthday　scheme　that　Bell　and　Geoffrey　should　cook　the
festival　dinner。

Jack　was　so　delighted　at　the　failure　of　Polly's　scheme　to　sew　him　in
his　tent；　that　he　simply　radiated　amiability；　and　spent　the　whole
morning　helping　Elsie　and　Margery　with　a　set　of　elaborate　dinner…
cards；　executed　on　half…sheets　of　note…paper。

The　dinner　itself　was　a　grand　success。　　Half　of　the　cards　bore　a
caricature　of　Polly　in　the　shape　of　a　parrot；　with　the　inscription
'Polly　want　a　cracker？'　　The　rest　were　adorned　with　pretty　sketches
of　her　in　her　camping…dress；　a　kettle　in　one　hand；　and　underneath；


'Polly；　put　the　kettle　on；
We'll　all　have　tea。'


This　was　the　bill　of　fare　arranged　by　Bell　and　Geoffrey；　and　written
on　the　reverse　side　of　the　dinner…cards


DINNER　A　LA　MOTHER　GOOSE。
CAMP　CHAPARRAL。
August　15；　18…。

'Come　with　a　whoop；　come　with　a　call；
Come　with　a　good　will；　or　not　at　all。'

'VICTUALS　AND　DRINK。'

BEAN　SOUP。
'She　gave　them　some　broth；　she　gave　them　some　bread。'
SALT　CODFISH。
'You　shall　have　a　fishy
In　a　little　dishy。'
ROAST　MUTTON　A　LA　VENISON。
'Dear　sensibility；　O　la！
I　heard　a　little　lamb　cry　ba…a！'
POTATOES　IN　JACKETS。
'The　butcher；　the　baker；　the　candlestick…maker；
All　jumped　out　of　a　roasted　potato。'
STEWED　BEANS。
'You；　nor　I；　nor　nobody　knows；
Where　oats；　peas；　beans；　and　barley　grows。'
CHICKEN　AND　BEEF　SANDWICHES。
'Hickety；　pickety；　my　pretty　hen
Laid　good　eggs　for　gentlemen。'
Taffy　was　a　Welshman；　Taffy　was　a　thief；
Taffy　came　to　my　house　and　stole　a　piece　of　beef。'
LEMON　PIE。
'A　pie　sat　on　a　pear…tree。'
PLUM　TARTS。
'The　Queen　of　Hearts；　she　made　some　tarts；
All　on　a　summer's　day。'
FRUIT；　NUTS；　AND　RAISINS。
'You　shall　have　an　apple；
You　shall　have　a　plum。'
'I　had　a　little　nut…tree；　nothing　would　it　bear
But　a　silver　nutmeg　and　a　golden　pear。'
BREAD　AND　CHEESE。
'When　I　was　a　bachelor　I　lived　by　myself；
And　all　the　bread　and　cheese　I　got　I　put　upon　the　shelf。'
COFFEE　AND　LEMONADE。
'One；　two；　three；　how　good　you　be！
I　love　coffee　and　Billy　loves　tea。'
'Oranges　and　lemons；
Says　the　bell　of　St。　Clemen's。'

'What　they　ate　I　can't　tell；
But　'tis　known　very　well
That　none　of　the　party　grew　fat。'


Bell　and　Geoff　took　turns　at　'dishing　up'　in　the　kitchen；　and　sat
down　at　the　table　between　whiles；　and　they　barely　escaped　being
mobbed　when　they　omitted　one　or　two　dishes　on　the　programme；　and
confessed　that　they　had　been　put　on　principally　for　the　'style'　of
the　thing；a　very　poor　excuse　to　a　company　of　people　who　have　made
up　their　mouths　for　all　the　delicacies　of　the　season。

Jack　was　head　waiter；　and　having　donned　a　clean　white　blouse　of　Hop
Yet's　and　his　best　cap　with　the　red　button；　from　which　dangled　a
hastily　improvised　queue　of　bl