“Don’t you think now that we might trust Mrs. Whitlock with Aunt Monica and Aunt Sally, and get father to take us to Edengarden, mother?” “Yes, child, yes, I was planning the very same thing myself! I’ll send one of the boys to fetch Sally, and you can throw your shawl over your head and run down and meet your father in the orchard and speak to him about taking us. And, mind, girl, be cautious! Not one word about the Lady of Edengarden until we three are on the boat alone together in the middle of the river, out of earshot of every human being except ourselves.” “Oh, mother, never fear me!” said Em. as she took her shepherd’s plaid shawl from its peg, wrapped it around her head and shoulders, wearing it as gracefully as ever Andalusian beauty wore her fascinating “rabousa,” and tripped out of the house on her way to the orchard. “Father, you are not very busy to-day?” she said interrogatively as she came up to John Palmer, standing amid a group of busy apple-pickers. “Well, no, Em., not particularly. Why did you ask, my lass?” “Because, if you can spare the time, mother and I wish you to take us in the row-boat down to Edengarden Island.” “Well, there! If I have asked your mother once to go to Edengarden I have asked her fifty times this summer, and never could get her to go. No, she wouldn’t trust herself on the water! But now she will go! Well, ‘sich is life.’ Of course I’ll spare the time, my dear! When do you want to go?” “Now.” “That’s short and sweet. Now, then, run home and get ready, and I will send word down to old ’Sias to have the boat out.” Em. went home as fast as she had come out, and told her mother to prepare for the trip. As for Em. herself, _her_ preparations were soon made; they consisted only in lowering her shawl to her shoulders, putting a little brown felt hat on her head, and drawing a pair of gloves on her hands. Susan only waited to receive Aunt Sally and place her in charge of the house, and then went with Em. out to join John, who, in his Sunday clothes, was waiting for them out of doors. The three walked briskly down the leaf-strewn road that led to the park gate. “Long time since you and I have had an outing together, Susan! And this came so unexpectedly it has all the pleasure of a surprise as well as of a holiday,” said John gayly, for he seemed honestly to enjoy his “outing,” as he called it, in company with his wife and his favorite child. “I’m sure, John, this time yesterday I had as much idea of going to Europe as going to Edengarden.” “Well, and what put it into your head to-day, my dear?” “I—I changed my mind,” replied Susan evasively. “You did? Surely. Well, ‘sich is life.’”