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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； another to peel her
oranges； and another to read Spanish