"No, auntie, I'd prefer stopping with you. I want to get some ferns and lots of things after you've mended my dress for me," replied Alice. "I like flowers better than old ruins." She said this quite cheerfully, as if she didn't mind a bit not going with the boys. This surprised the Captain somewhat, for he thought she would not like being left behind, and would have looked at all events a trifle cross. But, seeing how she took the matter, the old sailor's mind was immensely relieved. "Well then," he cried smiling, with his eyes blinking and winking away, "the sooner we're off, why the sooner we'll be back. Hullo, though, I've forgotten the hamper! Run up, Dick, and fetch it down here." Off scampered the lad, coming back quickly with the hamper, which he placed carefully by Mrs Gilmour's side. "There ma'am," said Captain Dresser, "you can look after the luncheon while we're away. Come along, boys--hi, Rover!" "Oh, please leave him behind," implored Nellie. "We want him." "What, who?" asked the Captain. "Dick or the dog?" "Rover," replied Nellie promptly. "He'll protect us in your absence in case anything happens." "What's that, eh!" quizzed the old sailor. "I suppose you're thinking again of those ferocious wild animals you encountered awhile ago, eh, missy?" "It's a shame, auntie, for the Captain to tease me so!" exclaimed Nellie, as the chaffy old gentleman went off chuckling, followed by Master Bob and Dick, the three soon disappearing amidst the greenery. "Never mind, though, I have got you, my good doggie; and I shan't forget how you came to my help, nor how glad I was to catch hold of your poor tail, you dear Rover, when you dragged me out of that horrid hole!" "Be aisy, me dearie," remonstrated Mrs Gilmour, as Nell reached over to hug Rover in a sudden caress of affection, and caused by the sudden movement a breakage of the thread, thus interrupting her aunt's handiwork. "Sure, if you go wriggling about like an eel with that dog, I shall never get your frock mended!" "All right, auntie, I beg your pardon. I'll be very good now, and promise not to move again till you tell me to." So saying, Miss Nell resumed her former position, and, making Rover lie down at her feet, remained "as quiet as a mouse," as her aunt acknowledged, until the latter had completed her task of gathering up the rents in the damaged garment that the envious blackberry-thorns had made. CHAPTER TWELVE. "THE DEVIL'S BIT." "Now, me dearie," said Mrs Gilmour, replacing her needle and thimble, with the reel of thread, in her little "housewife," and putting that carefully back into her pocket, "sure, we'll have a jollification on our own account as our gentlemen have left us. We'll show them that we can do without them, sure, when we like."