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her opinions just then； indeed； she felt too depressed and out of
sorts to join in the general hilarity。
Dinner being over； Dr。 Paul and the boys took the children and
sauntered up the canyon for a lazy afternoon with their books。 Elsie
went to sleep in the new hammock that the doctor had hung in the
sycamores back of the girls' sleeping…tent； and Mrs。 Winship lay down
for her afternoon nap。 Pancho saddled the horses for Bell and
Margery； who went for a gallop。 Polly climbed into the sky…parlour
to write a long letter to her mother； and Laura was left to solitude
in the sleeping…tent。 Now everybody knows that a tent at midday is
not a particularly pleasant spot； and after many a groan at the glare
of the sun； which could not be tempered by any system of shawls； and
moans at the gopher…holes which she discovered while searching for
her ear…ring； and repeated consultations with the hand…glass at brief
intervals； during which she convinced herself that she looked worse
every minute；she finally discovered a series of alarming new spots
on her neck and chin。 She felt then that camping out was a complete
failure； and that she would be taken home forthwith if it could be
managed； since she saw nothing before her but day after day of close
confinement and unattractive personal appearance。 'It's just my
luck！' she grumbled； as she twisted up her hair and made herself as
presentable as possible under the trying circumstances。 'I don't
think I ever had a becoming or an interesting illness。 The chicken…
pox； mumps； and sties on my eyesthat's the sort of thing I have！'
'I feel much worse； Mrs。 Winship；' she said； going into the sitting…
room tent and waking Aunt Truth from a peaceful snooze。 'If you can
spare Pancho over night； I really think I must trouble you to send
Anne and me home at once。 I feel as if I wanted to go to bed in a
dark room； and I shall only be a bother if I stay。'
'Why； my child； I'm sorry to have you go off with your visit
unfinished。 You know we don't mind any amount of trouble； if we can
make you comfortable。'
'You are very kind； but indeed I'd rather go。'
'I hardly dare let you start in the hot sunwithout consulting the
doctor； and everybody is away except Polly； they will feel badly not
to say good…bye。'
'It is nearly three o'clock now； so the worst of the sun is over； and
we shall be at the ranch by eight this evening。 I feel too ill to
say good…bye； any way； and we shall meet Bell and Margery somewhere
on the road； for they were going to the milk ranch。'
'Very well； my dear； if you've made up your mind I must yield；'
replied Mrs。 Winship； getting up and smoothing her hair。 'I don't
dare wake Elsie； she has had such an exciting day； but I'll call
Polly to help you pack； and then tell Pancho to find Anne and harness
the team。 While he is doing that； I'll get you a little lunch to
take with you and write a note to your mother。 Perhaps you can come
again before we break camp； but I'm sorry to send you home in such a
sad plight。'
CHAPTER VIII： POLLY'S BIRTHDAY： SECOND HALF
IN WHICH SHE WISHES SEE HAD NEVER BEEN BORN。
'From Hebrew wit the maxim sprung；
Though feet should slip； ne'er let the tongue。
Polly came at once to the tent； where she found Laura getting her
belongings together。
'Why； Laura； it seems too bad you should go off so suddenly。 What
can I do to help you？'
The very spirit of evil entered Laura's heart as she looked at Polly；
so fresh and pretty and radiant； with her dimples dancing in and out；
her hair ruffled with the effort of literary composition； and the
glow of the day's happiness still shining in her eyes。 She felt as
if Polly was 'glad inside' that she was poisoned； she felt sure she
was internally jumping for joy at her departure； and； above all； she
felt that Polly was entirely too conceited over the attention she had
received that day； and needed to be 'taken down a peg or two。'
'Red…haired； stuck…up； saucy thing；' she thought； 'how I should like
to give her a piece of my mind before I leave this place； if I only
dared！'
'I don't need any help； thank you；' she said aloud； in her iciest
manner。
'But it will only make your head ache to bend over and tug away at
that valise； and I'll be only too glad to do it。'
'I've no doubt of that；' responded Laura； meaningly。 'It is useless
for you to make any show of regret over my going； for I know
perfectly well that you are glad to get me out of the way。'
'Why； Laura； what do you mean？' exclaimed Polly； completely dazed at
this bombshell of candour。
'I mean what I say； and I should have said it before if I could ever
have found a chance。 Because I didn't mention it at the time； you
needn't suppose I've forgotten your getting me into trouble with Mrs。
Winship； the day before the Howards came。'
'That was not my fault；' said Polly； hotly。 'I didn't speak any
louder than the other girls； and I didn't know Aunt Truth objected to
Mrs。 Pinkerton； and I didn't know she was anywhere near。'
'You roared like the bull of Bashanthat's what you did。 Perhaps
you can't help your voice； but anybody in the canyon could have heard
you； and Mrs。 Winship hasn't been the same to me since； and the boys
don't take the slightest notice of me lately。'
'You are entirely mistaken； Laura。 Dr。 and Mrs。 Winship are just as
lovely and cordial to you as they are to everybody else； and the boys
do not feel well enough acquainted with you to 〃frolic〃 with you as
they do with us。'
'It isn't so； but you are not sensitive enough to see it； and I
should never have been poisoned if it hadn't been for you！'
'Oh； go on； do！' said Polly； beginning to lose her self…control；
which was never very great。 'I didn't know I was a Lucrezia Borgia
in disguise。 How did I poison you； pray？'
'I didn't say you poisoned me； but you made me so uncomfortable that
day； bringing down Mrs。 Winship's lecture on my head and getting my
best friend abused； that I was glad to get away from the camp； and
went out with Jack for that reason when I was too tired and warm； and
you are always trying to cut me out with Bell and the boys。'
'That's a perfectlyjet blackfib！' cried Polly； who was now
thoroughly angry； 'and I don't think it is very polite of you to
attack the whole party； and say they haven't been nice to you； when
they've done everything in the world！'
'It isn't your party any more than mine； is it？ And if I don't know
how to be polite； I certainly shan't ask YOU for instruction； for I
must know as much about the manners of good society as you do；
inasmuch as I have certainly seen more of it！'
Polly sank into a camp…chair； too stunned for a moment to reply；
while Laura； who had gone quite beyond the point where she knew or
cared what she said； went on with a rush of words： 'I mean to tell
you； now that I am started； that anybody who isn't blind can see why
you toady to the Winships； who have money and social position； and
why you are so anxious to keep everybody else from getting into their
good graces； but they are so partial to you that they have given you
an entirely false idea of yourself； and you might as well