a summer in a canyon-第25章

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view；　bearing　two　quarters　and　a　saddle　of　freshly　killed　mutton；
hanging　from　a　leafy　branch　swung　between　Jack's　sturdy　shoulder　and
Geoff's。

'A　splendid　〃still　hunt〃　this　morning；　Aunt　Truth！'　exclaimed　Jack。
'Game　plenty　and　not　too　shy；　dogs　in　prime　condition；　hunters　ditto。
Behold　the　result！'

The　girls　could　scarcely　tell　whether　or　no　Laura　was　offended　at
Aunt　Truth's　unexpected　little　lecture。　　She　did　not　appear　quite　as
unrestrained　as　usual；　but　as　everybody　was　engaged　in　the
preparations　for　Elsie's　welcome　there　was　a　general　atmosphere　of
hilarity　and　confusion；　so　that　no　awkwardness　was　possible。

The　tool…shop　resounded　with　blows　of　hammer　and　steel。　　Dicky　was
under　everybody's　feet；　and　his　'seven　or　ten　frogs；'　together　with
his　unrivalled　collection　of　horned　toads；　were　continually　escaping
from　their　tin　pails　and　boxes　in　the　various　tents；　and　everybody
was　obliged　to　join　in　the　search　to　recover　and　re…incarcerate　them；
in　order　to　keep　the　peace。

Hop　Yet　was　making　a　gold　and　silver　cake；　with　'Elsie'　in　pink
letters　on　chocolate　frosting。　　Philip　had　pitched　the　new　tent　so
that　in　one　corner　there　was　a　slender　manzanita…tree　which　had　been
cropped　for　some　purpose　or　other。　　He　had　nailed　a　cross…piece　on
this；　so　that　it　resembled　the　letter　T；　and　was　now　laboriously
boring　holes　and　fitting　in　pegs；　that　Elsie　might　have　a　sort　of
closet　behind　her　bed。

As　for　the　rustic　furniture；　the　girls　and　boys　declared　it　to　be　too
beautiful　for　words。　　They　stood　in　circles　about　it　and　admired　it
without　reserve；　each　claiming　that　his　own　special　piece　of　work　was
the　gem　of　the　collection。　　The　sunlight　shining　through　the　grey　and
green　tints　of　the　tent　was　voted　perfection；　Philip's　closet　a
miracle　of　ingenuity；　the　green　and　white　straw　matting　an
inspiration。

The　looking…glass　had　been　mounted　on　a　packing…box；　and　converted　by
Laura　into　a　dressing…table　that　rivalled　Mrs。　Pinkerton's；　for　green
tarlatan　and　white　mosquito…netting　had　been　so　skilfully　combined
that　the　traditional　mermaid　might　have　been　glad　to　make　her　toilet
there　'with　a　comb　and　a　glass　in　her　hand。'　　The　rest　of　the　green
and　white　gauzy　stuff　had　been　looped　from　the　corners　of　the　tent　to
the　centre　of　the　roof…piece；　and　delicate　tendrils　of　wild　clematis
climbed　here　and　there　as　if　it　were　growing；　its　roots　plunged　in
cunningly　hidden　bottles　of　water。　　Bell　had　gone　about　with　pieces
of　awning　cloth　and　green　braid；　and　stitched　an　elaborate　system　of
pockets　on　the　inside　of　the　tent　wherever　they　would　not　be　too
prominent。　　There　were　tiny　pockets　for　needle…work；　thimbles；　and
scissors；　medium…sized　pockets　for　soap　and　combs　and　brushes；　bigger
pockets　for　shoes　and　slippers　and　stockings；　and　mammoth　pockets　for
anything　else　that　Elsie　might　ordain　to　put　in　a　pocket。

By　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　Margery　had　used　her　clever　fingers
to　such　purpose　that　a　white　silesia　flag；　worked　with　the　camp　name；
floated　from　the　tip　top　of　the　front　entrance　to　the　tent。　　The
ceremony　of　raising　the　flag　was　attended　with　much　enthusiasm；　and
its　accomplishment　greeted　by　a　deafening　cheer　from　the　entire
party。

'Unless　one　wants　Paradise；'　sighed　Margery；　'who　wouldn't　be
contented　with　dear　Camp　Chaparral？'

'Who　would　live　in　a　house；　any　way？'　exclaimed　Philip。　　'Sniff　this
air；　and　look　up　at　that　sky！'

'And　this　is　what　they　call　〃roughing　it；〃　in　Santa　Barbara；'　quoth
Dr。　Winship。　　'Why；　you　youngsters　have　made　that　tent　fit　for　the
occupancy　of　a　society　belle。'

'Now；　let's　organise　for　reception！'　cried　Geoffrey。　　'Assemble；　good
people！　　Come　over　here；　Aunt　Truth！　　I　will　take　the　chair　myself；
since　I　don't　happen　to　see　anybody　who　would　fill　it　with　more
dignity。'

'I　am　going　to　mount　my　broncho　and　go　out　on　the　road　to　meet　my
beloved　family；'　said　Jack；　sauntering　up　to　the　impromptu　council…
chamber。

'How　can　you　tell　when　they　will　arrive？'　asked　Mrs。　Winship。

'I　can　make　a　pretty　good　guess。　　They'll　probably　start　from　Tacitas
as　early　as　eight　or　nine　o'clock；　if　Elsie　is　well。　　Let's　see：
it's　about　twenty…five　miles；　isn't　it；　Uncle　Doc？　　Say　twenty…three
to　the　place　where　they　turn　off　the　main　road。　　Well；　I'll　take　a
bit　of　lunch；　ride　out　ten　or　twelve　miles；　hitch　my　horse　in　the
shade；　and　wait。'

'Very　well；'　said　Geoffrey。　　'It　is　not　usual　for　committees　to
appoint　themselves；　but　as　you　are　a　near　relative　of　our
distinguished　guests　we　will　grant　you　special　consideration　and
order　you　to　the　front。　　Ladies　and　gentlemen；　passing　over　the
slight　informality　of　the　nomination；　all　in　favour　of　appointing　Mr。
John　Howard　Envoy　Extraordinary　please　manifest　it　by　the　usual
sign。'

Six　persons　yelled　'Ay；'　four　raised　the　right　hand；　and　one　stood
up。

'There　seems　to　be　a　slight　difference　of　opinion　as　to　the　usual
sign。　　All　right。Contrary　minded！'

'No！'　shouted　Polly；　at　the　top　of　her　lungs。

'It　is　a　unanimous　vote；'　said　Geoffrey；　crushingly；　bringing　down
his　fist　as　an　imaginary　gavel　with　incredible　force　and　dignity。
'Dr。　and　Mrs。　Winship；　will　you　oblige　the　Chair　by　acting　as　a
special　Reception　Committee？'

'Certainly；'　responded　the　doctor；　smilingly。　　'Will　the　Chair　kindly
outline　the　general　policy　of　the　committee？'

'Hm…m…m！　　Yes；　certainlyof　course。　　The　Chair　suggests　that　the
Reception　Committeewell；　that　they　stay　at　home　andreceive　the
guests；yes；　that　will　do　very　nicely。　　All…in…favour…and…so…forth…
it…is…a…vote…and…so…ordered。　　Secretary　will　please　spread　a　copy　on
the　minutes。'　　Gavel。

'I　rise　to　a　point　of　order；'　said　Jack；　sagely。　　'There　is　no
secretary　and　there　are　no　minutes。'

'Mere　form；'　said　the　Chair；　'sit　down；　there　will　be　minutes　in　a
minute；got　to　do　some　more　things　first；　that　will　do；　SIT　DOWN。
Will　the　Misses　Burton　and　Messrs。　Burton　and　Noble　kindly　act　as
Committee　on　Decoration？'

'Where's　the　Committee　on　Music；　and　Refreshments；　and　Olympian
Games；　and　all　that　sort　of　thing？'　interrupted　Polly；　who　had　not
the　slightest　conception　of　parliamentary　etiquette；　'and　why　don't
you　hurry　up　and　put　me　on　something？'

'If　Miss　Oliver　refuses　to　bridle　her　tongue；　and　persists　in
interrupting　the　business　of　the　meeting；　the　Chair　will　be　obliged
to　remove　her；'　said　Geoffrey；　with　chilling　emphasis。

Polly　rose　again；　undaunted。　　'I　would　respectfully　ask　the　Chair；
who　put　him　in　the　chair；　any　way？'

'Question！'　roared　Philip。

'Second　the　motion！'　shrieked　Bell；　that　being　the　only　parliamentary
expression　she　knew。

'Order！'　cried　Geoffrey　in　stentorian　accents。　　'I　will　adjourn　the
meeting　and　clear　the　court…room　unless　there　is　order。'

'Do！'　remarked　Polly；　encouragingly。　　'I　will　rise　again；　like
Phoebus；　from　my　ashes；　to　say　that'

Here　Jack　sprang　to　his　feet。　　'I　would　suggest　to　the　Chair　that　the
last　speaker　amend　her　motion　by　substituting　the　word　〃Phoenix〃　for
〃Phoebus。〃'

'Accept　the　amendment；'　said　Polly；　serenely；　amidst　the　general
hilarity。

'Question！'　called　Bell；　with　another　mighty　projection　of　memory
into　a　missionary　meeting　that　she　had　once　attended。

'I　am　not　aware　that　there　is　any　motion　before　the　house；'　said
Geoffrey；　cuttingly。

'Second　the　motion！'

'Second　the　amendment！'　shouted　the　girls。

'Ladies；　there　IS　no　motion。　　Will　you　oblige　the　Chair　by　remaining
quiet　until　speech　is　requested？'

'Move　that　the　meeting　be　adjourned　and　another　one　called；　with　a
new　Chair！'　remarked　Margery；　who　felt　that　the　honour　of　her　sex　was
at　stake。

'Move　that　this　motion　be　so　ordered　and　spread　upon　the　minutes；　and
a　copy　of　it　be　presented　to　the　Chairman；'　suggested　Philip。

'Move　that　the　copy　be　appropriately　bound　in　CALF；'　said　Jack；
dodging　an　imaginary　blow。

'Move　that　the　other　committees　be　elected　by　ballot；'　concluded
Scott　Burton。

'This　is　simply　disgraceful！'　exclaimed　the　Chair。　　'Order！　order！　　I
appoint　Miss　Oliver　Committee　on　Entertainment；　with　a　view　of
keeping　her　still。'

This　was　received　with　particular　as　well　as　general　satisfaction。

'Miss　Winship；　we　appoint　you　Commit