So the shovels disappeared, and Hugh, returning to the studio, related the adventure to Bessie with a hearty laugh. "Do you know anything about the B. B.'s?" he asked, as Bessie resumed her work. "Oh, yes!" she replied; "I know them to my cost. They are ruin to water-melons, riot on peaches, and revenge to anyone who interferes with them. A few weeks ago, they frightened Mrs. Lane and her sister almost into a fainting-fit. You know that high board fence below here? Well! one evening the B. B.'s happened to find out that they were over at Mrs. Reed's, so they waited until the ladies came along, and then they laid themselves down on the ground close behind the fence, and putting their mouths against the boards, groaned out, one by one, 'seven years ago I was murdered and buried under this fence, oh!--oh!--oh!'--each boy keeping up the groan until the next one took it up as the ladies hurried by." Hugh laughed; "What did they do it for?" he asked. "Oh, I believe Mrs. Lane had ordered them out of her garden, one day, when they were playing there with her Johnny." "I am afraid if Aunt Faith knew they were undermining her terrace, she would order them out of her's, too." "I think not, Hugh. Aunt Faith likes boys, and she never seems to see their pranks." "Dear Aunt Faith! she is certainly the kindest aunt a graceless nephew ever had," said Hugh warmly. "That she is; I love her dearly, and I do mean to try not to vex her any more," said Bessie earnestly. "But, the horseback-riding, Bessie!" "But, the horseback-riding, Hugh!" The two offenders looked at each other a moment in silence, and then burst into a peal of laughter. "It's of no use," said Bessie; "we can't be good." "Do you think Aunt Faith would be very much shocked if we should tell her?" asked Hugh. "Of course she would. She does not like to see a lady on horseback, because her cousin was killed by a fall from a horse, you know. Still, she might not forbid my going, provided I would ride quietly on a country road; but that is just what I do not want to do. The whole excitement is in the racing, you know." "Well, I suppose it would be better not to tell her, then," said Hugh slowly. Dinner-time came, and the family assembled in the dining-room, Sibyl attired in a fresh muslin, and Bessie and Hugh somewhat dusty after their morning in the studio. Tom and Gem came in with flushed faces;--the B. B.'s were to return after dinner and finish the excavation, and the afternoon was to be full of glory. "Sibyl," said Aunt Faith, when the others had left the dining-room, "would you like to go with me to see Margaret Brown, about four o'clock? You have been there before, I believe?" "No, Aunt Faith, I have never been there." "I thought Mr. Leslie said so." "He did, but he was mistaken," replied Sibyl calmly. "I will go with you, however, this afternoon, aunt, if you wish."