It was all they could desire; a little cooler than the day before, but without the slightest appearance of rain; so the young faces that surrounded the breakfast table were very bright and happy.
The carriages were at the door very soon after they left the table.

It did not take many minutes to pack them, and then they set off all in high glee; more especially the little ones.
Everything passed off well; there was no accident, all were in good humor, the children on their best behavior, and they found the strawberries and cream very fine; so that when the day was over, it was unanimously voted a decided success.
A few days after this the children were again in their favorite spot down by the brook.

They were sitting on the grass talking, for it was almost too warm to play.
"How nice and cool the water looks!" remarked Sophy, "Let's pull off our shoes and stockings, and hold up our dresses and wade about in it.

It isn't at all deep, and I know it would feel so good and cool to our feet." "Bravo! that's a capital idea!" cried Harold, beginning at once to divest himself of his shoos and stockings; then rolling his pantaloons up to his knees he stepped in, followed by Sophy, who had made her preparations with equal dispatch.
"Come, Elsie, aren't you going to get in, too ?" she asked, for Elsie still sat on the bank making no movement towards following their example.
"I should like to, very much; but I don't know whether papa would approve of it." "Why, what objection could he have?
it can't do us any harm, for I'm sure we couldn't drown if we tried," said Harold.

"Come now, Elsie, don't be so silly.