"Oh, I wish for the thousandth time that we could live nearer the lake," she said in hearty young tones. "Every block one comes inland, one feels the difference in heat. Where is Clover?" "In the back yard, hanging out clothes," was the anxious response. "I’m afraid for her, Mildred. I wish you would take her a shade hat." "Hanging out clothes!" repeated Mildred, amazed. "What in the world"—She did not wait to finish her sentence, but hastening into the hall seized a broad-rimmed hat hanging there and hurried to the back of the house. Running down the steps, the dancing light quite gone from her clear eyes, she approached her sister. "What does this mean, Clover?" she exclaimed accusingly. The elder, already highly colored, now looked uneasy. "You know Mrs. O’Rourke couldn’t come to-day to do the washing," she answered. "No, but she can come Wednesday," retorted the younger, placing the hat upon the sunny roughened hair of the head which was decidedly below her own in height. "Don’t stick the hat-pin into me," cried Clover, smiling up into the displeased eyes. "I don’t know but I will. Just look at your fingers, all white and parboiled!" Clover clasped the offending hands behind her. "What did you do it for?" asked the young girl severely. "Here I’ve been having the most elegant jouncy sail,—it is deliciously rough,—sitting at my ease on a cushion, while you’ve been working like this. It isn’t a bit fair." "All right. Help me to hang up the rest of these clothes, and I’ll tell you why I did it." Mildred snatched up a small blouse waist and a couple of clothespins. What was the use of cooling off on Lake Michigan if one must return to this? How the sun did broil down! "Was Elsie with you?" asked Clover, as she pinioned the side of an apron to the line. "Yes, and Frank too. Harry Billings took us all out." "I’m afraid that the children will become something of a nuisance down at the boat-house. Of course with you it is different; but the others hang around and look wishful, and of course the young men are too good-natured not to ask them. As for Frankie, he is such an amphibious little animal, we can’t help his living down there." "I only wish we all did live on the shore," grumbled Mildred. "I never shall be resigned to being so far from the lake." "Oh, it is something to live in the country," rejoined Clover comfortingly, "and Hyde Park is pretty all through." "Country! Hyde Park!" said Mildred scornfully. "You know it is all Chicago now." "To be sure; but the annexation is a novelty yet, so no wonder I had forgotten. However, what’s in a name?"