Poor Beth did not think it so lovely. She put a bold face on the matter, though, and jumped as she had seen Julia do, also keeping her arms going in the same manner as Julia. However, she landed with a sickening thud that jarred every bone in her body. "Isn't it fun, Beth? Let's try it again." Up Julia scampered upon the shed. Beth, not to be outdone, followed after, but more slowly. Again Julia Jumped and Beth followed. She felt the jar even more the second time than she had the first. Fortunately, Mr. Davenport arrived on the scene just in time to see their last leap. "Children, children, what are you thinking about to jump off that high shed? You might hurt yourselves badly. Don't do such a thing as that again. Run into the house now; it is about dinner time." The children did as they were bidden; but when Mrs. Davenport beheld Beth, she exclaimed: "Why, Beth, what is the matter? You seem to be limping." Beth tried to brace up. "Oh, it's nothing, mamma. I'm a little stiff, that's all." "What have you two been up to?" "We've been flying." Julia clasped her hands in an ecstasy of delight. "And it was such fun, Mrs. Davenport." "Flying? What do you mean?" "Well, you see, we got up on that shed back of the barn, and jumped off. We made our arms go for wings." "The very idea of jumping off that tall shed! No wonder you are lame. Beth cannot play another bit to-day. You two will have to go to bed very early to-night." Beth for once in her life did not demur. She was so worn out that she was really glad to go to bed. After a good night's rest she was much better, but she continued lame for several days. CHAPTER VI House Building The Gordons had several cords of square cut wood in their back yard, and this inspired Julia and Beth to a great undertaking. They built a house, piling two sticks lengthways and two crossways, one above the other, and so on until they had laid the walls for three rooms. They worked like beavers, and Mrs. Gordon, amused by this new scheme of the two indefatigables, and thinking to herself that the children would probably be tired of the house by the time the wood was needed, allowed one of the servants to help. He used the top of the box in which the piano came for a roof, boarded the floors, and, in the middle room, helped to make an alcove. In this Julia and Beth piled up wood for a bed, saying that they did not mind if it was hard. When completed, the girls took out to their new paradise everything they dared lay hands on, and asked Mrs. Gordon to inspect their work.