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And shortened the delay by pleasing chat。'
The August days had slipped away one after another； and September was
at hand。 There was no perceptible change of weather to mark the
advent of the new month。 The hills were a little browner； the dust a
little deeper； the fleas a little nimbler； and the water in the brook
a trifle lower； but otherwise Dame Nature did not concern herself
with the change of seasons； inasmuch as she had no old dresses to get
rid of； and no new ones to put on for a long time yet； indeed； she is
never very fashionable in this locality； and wears very much the same
garments throughout the year。
Elsie seemed almost as strong as any of the other girls now； and
could enter with zest into all their amusements。 The appetite of a
young bear； the sound； dreamless sleep of a baby； and the constant
breathing in of the pure； life…giving air had made her a new
creature。 Mrs。 Howard and Jack felt； day by day； that a burden of
dread was being lifted from their hearts； and Mrs。 Howard especially
felt that she loved every rock and tree in the canyon。
It was a charming morning； and Polly was seated at the dining…room
table； deep in the preparation of a lesson in reading and
pronunciation for Hop Yet。 Her forehead was creased with many
wrinkles of thought； and she bit the end of her lead…pencil as if she
were engaged in solving some difficult problem； but； if that were so；
why did the dimples chase each other in and out of her cheeks in such
a suspicious fashion？ She was a very gentle； a very sedate Polly；
these latter days； and not only astonished her friends； but surprised
herself； by her good behaviour； her elegant reserve of manner； her
patience with Jack； and her abject devotion to Dicky。
'I'm afraid it won't last；' she sighed to herself occasionally。 'I'm
almost too good。 That's always the way with meI must either be so
bad that everybody is discouraged； or else so good that I frighten
them。 Now I catch Bell and Elsie exchanging glances every day； as
much as to say； 〃Poor Polly； she will never hold out at this rate； do
you notice that nothing ruffles herthat she is simply angelic？〃 As
if I couldn't be angelic for a fortnight！ Why I have often done it
for four weeks at a stretch！'
Margery was in the habit of giving Hop Yet an English lesson every
other day； as he had been very loath to leave his evening school in
Santa Barbara and bury himself in a canyon； away from all educational
influences； but she had deserted her post for once and gone to ride
with Elsie； so that Polly had taken her place and was evolving an
exercise that Hop Yet would remember to the latest day of his life。
It looked simple enough：…
1。 The grass is dry。
2。 The fruit is ripe。
3： The chaparral is green。
4。 The new road is all right。
5。 The bay…'rum' tree is fresh and pretty。
But as no Chinaman can pronounce the letter 'r；' it was laboriously
rendered thus； when the unhappy time of the lesson came：
1。 The…glass…is…dly。
2。 The…fluit…is…lipe。
3。 The…chap…lal…is…gleen。
4。 The…new…load…is…all…light…ee。
5。 The bay…lum…tlee…is…flesh…and…plitty。
Finally； when she attempted to introduce the sentence； 'Around the
rough and rugged rock the ragged rascal ran；' Hop Yet rose hurriedly；
remarking； 'All lightee； I go no more school jus' now。 I lun get
lunchee。'
Bell came running down the path just then； and linking her arm in
Polly's said； 'Papa has the nicest plan。 You know the boys are so
disappointed that Colonel Jackson didn't ask them over to that rodeo
at his cattle ranchthough a summer rodeo is only to sort out fat
cattle to sell； and it is not very exciting； but papa promised to
tell them all about the old…fashioned kind some night； and he has
just remembered that to…morrow is Admission Day； September 9； so he
proposes a real celebration round the camp…fire to amuse Elsie。 She
doesn't know anything about California even as it is now； and none of
us know what it was in the old days。 Don't you think it will be
fun？'
'Perfectly splendid！'
'And papa wants us each to contribute something。'
'A picnic！but I don't know anything。'
'That's just what I'm coming to。 I have such a bright idea。 He said
that we might look in any of his books； but Geoff and Jack are at
them already； and I'd like a surprise。 Now Juan Capistrano； an old
vaquero of Colonel Jackson's； is over here。 He is a wonderful rider；
papa says that he could ride on a comet； if he could get a chance to
mount。 It was he who told the boys that the rodeo was over。 Now I
propose that we go and interview Pancho and Juan； and get them to
tell us some old California stories。 They are both as stupid as they
can be； but they must have had some adventures； I suppose； somewhere；
sometime。 I'll translate and write the things down； for my part； and
you and Margery can tell them。'
'Lovely！ Oh； if we can only get an exciting grizzly story； so that
Every one's blood upon end it will stand；
And the hair run cold in their veins！
And was Dr。 Paul out here when California was admitted into the
Union1850； wasn't it？'
'Of course； why； my child； he was one of the delegates called by
General Riley； the military governor； to meet in convention at
Monterey and make a State constitution。 That was September； toothe
first day of September 1849。 He went back to the East some time
afterwards； and stayed ten or fifteen years； but he was a real
pioneer and 〃forty…niner〃 all the same。
The next night； September 9th； was so cool that the camp…fire was
more than ordinarily delightful； accordingly they piled on more wood
than usual； and prepared for a grand blaze。 It was always built
directly in front of the sitting…room tent； so that Mrs。 Howard and
Mrs。 Winship could sit there if they liked； but the young people
preferred to lie lazily on their cushions and saddles under the oak…
tree； a little distance from the blaze。 The clear； red firelight
danced and flickered； and the sparks rose into the sombre darkness
fantastically； while the ruddy glow made the great oak an enchanted
palace； into whose hollow dome they never tired of gazing。 When the
light streamed highest； the bronze green of the foliage was turned
into crimson； and； as it died now and then； the stars winked brightly
through the thousand tiny windows formed by the interlacing branches。
'Well；' said the doctor； bringing his Chinese lounging…chair into the
circle； and lighting his pipe so as to be thoroughly happy and
comfortable； 'will you banish distinctions of age and allow me to sit
among you this evening？'
'Certainly；' Margery said； 'that's the very point of the celebration。
This is Admission Day； you know； and why shouldn't we admit you？'
'True； and having put myself into a holiday humour by dining off
Pancho's dish of guisado （I suppose to…night of all nights we must
call beef and onion stew by its local name）； I will proceed to
business； and we will talk about California。 By the way； I shall
only conduct the exercises； for I feel rather embarrassed by the fact
that I've never killed； or been killed by； a bear； never been bitten
by a tarantula； poisoned by a rattlesnake； as