Part 4 (1/2)
The girls at the Grange had fashi+ons in books, and at present they were all raving over the works of Gene Stratton Porter Even Rayenerally much of a reader, had succumbed to the charms of _Freckles_ and _A Girl of the Limberlost_ The accounts of the American swamp forest fascinated her It was a veritable ”call of the wild”
”I'd give anything--just anything--to get into such a place!” she confided to Fauvette ”I'd chance even the snakes and mosquitoes Just think of the trees and the flowers and the birds and the butterflies!
Why don't we have things like that in England?”
”I expect we do, only one never gets to see them There's a wood over there on the hill that looks absolutely top-hole if one could go into it Hermie said the other day that the bu us all for a picnic there some day It would be rather precious”
Raymonde shook her head reflectively
”Picnics are all very well in their way, but when you turn about thirty people together into a wood, I fancy the birds and butterflies will give us a wide berth Freckles found his speci in a crowd! Look here! Suppose you and I go and explore I'll be the Bird Woel”
”Oh, what a blossoe her?”
”We'll wait till she's shut herself up in her attic, and then we'll scoot Between tea and prep's the best time, especially now prep's been put later”
”You really have the most chubby inspirations, Ray,” burbled Fauvette
”You're an absolute el appealed to Fauvette She was conscious that she looked the part She fingered her fluffy flaxen curls caressingly, and resolved to wear a blue cotton dress for the next day or two, in case there was a chance of the expedition In i rare birds and shooting villains with revolvers, and looking her best through it all
”I wish I kne to et even the ice over here, not to speak of the bits of cherry and leel used for Freckles
Girls in America have a far better tiet a little fun, you'll see, if we can only circumvent the Wasp”
It was not a remarkably easy matter to leave the premises unobserved
Monitresses had a tireso about in places where they were not wanted; Mademoiselle made herself far too conspicuous, and Miss Gibbs seereat attention to duty can degenerate into a fault
”It's what Miss Beasley said in the Scripture lesson,” declared Raymonde ”Econoance, self-respect into pride Gibbie's over-stepping theresponsibility run to fussiness”
It is hardly possible to tackle a mistress and convince her of her faults, so Miss Gibbs's pharisaical tendencies went unchecked
Evidently the only possible e her Whether her suspicions were aroused it is ilected her attic sanctu recreation hours
Ray spurt of industry at osier-weaving
”You've each nearly finished a basket,” said Miss Gibbs approvingly