"Don't tempt my merry men," Knight begged comically. "They've never yet been known to refuse food, and though it's only an hour since breakfast, I've no confidence in them." "Won't you please hurry?" Alec asked eagerly. "I can't wait for you all to see the Spring." "We're ready right now," said Blue Bonnet, jumping up impulsively. "Come on, girls, it's a glorious morning for a tramp." "Haven't you forgotten something, Blue Bonnet?" her grandmother asked. Blue Bonnet looked puzzled. "Do you mean hats? I'd much rather go without one, if you don't mind, Grandmother." But it was not hats that Grandmother was thinking of; gradually it dawned on Blue Bonnet that the other girls were not making ready for the excursion, but were gathering up the dishes and clearing the table. She flashed a reproachful look at them. "You might let those wait," she protested. Grandmother smiled. "You do surely belong to the 'land of _poco tiempo_,' Blue Bonnet." "But the dishes will keep--" "And so will the Spring!" The girl gave a discouraged sigh; it was a pity Grandmother had not been brought up in Texas; then she would have understood what were the really necessary things in life. She nodded wistfully at the boys. "Grandmother believes in every girl's doing her duty," she said. "We'll have the manager hold the performance," said Knight cheerfully. "We'll be back in half an hour,--Carita can go by that time, too." Blue Bonnet brightened visibly at this, and turned resolutely to the hated tasks. "Debby and I will wash the dishes; Sarah can 'red up,' and you and Amanda do the beds," Kitty suggested. Aunt Lucinda's training stood Blue Bonnet in good stead here. The going over the rather bumpy beds got in that half-hour left Amanda breathless with admiration. "You can do things beautifully when you want to, Blue Bonnet," she remarked. "When I have to, you mean," Blue Bonnet replied. "Where's the broom, do you know?" asked Sarah. "Sh!" Blue Bonnet drew her into the tent and out of every one's hearing. "There isn't any broom, Sarah." "But I put one in the wagon myself." "And I _threw it out_!" "Blue Bonnet!" Something like horror was in Sarah's blue eyes. Blue Bonnet met her gaze defiantly. "Did you ever see a picture of the Witch of Salem, Sarah?" Sarah gave a bewildered nod. "What has the Witch of Salem--" "Wasn't she riding a broom?" Blue Bonnet persisted. "Yes--but--" "Well, in my opinion that's the only good use a broom was ever put to! It has no place in a respectable camping party." Sarah said no more; but when, a few minutes later, Amanda and Blue Bonnet looked out to learn the source of an odd sound, they beheld the indomitable Sarah, armed with an antiquated rake, gathering up the leaves and litter on the hard dirt "floor" of the dining-room. "Who would have thought to see our Sarah grown rakish?" asked Blue Bonnet,--and then dodged the pillow sent by Amanda's indignant hand.