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go home and act our part of host and hostess。
Mrs。 Old John had been at the camp ever since breakfast…time；
giving the place a Saturday cleaning。 What she had found to occupy
her for so long a time I could not imagine； but in her efforts to
put in a full half…day's work； I have no doubt she scrubbed some of
the trees。 We had been so fully occupied with our own affairs that
we had paid very little attention to her； but she had probably
heard pretty much all that had been said。
At noon we paid her （giving her； at her suggestion； something extra
in lieu of the midday meal； which she did not stay to take）； and
told her to send her husband； with his wagon； as soon as possible；
as we intended to break up our encampment。 We determined that we
would pack everything in John's wagon； and let him take the load to
his house； and keep it there until Monday； when I would have the
tent and accompaniments expressed to their owner。 We would go home
and join our friends。 It would not be necessary to say where we
had been。
It was hard for us to break up our camp。 In many respects we had
enjoyed the novel experience； and we had fully expected； during the
next week； to make up for all our short…comings and mistakes。 It
seemed like losing all our labor and expenditure； to break up now；
but there was no help for it。 Our place was at home。
We did not wish to invite our friends to the camp。 They would
certainly have come had they known we were there； but we had no
accommodations for them； neither had we any desire for even
transient visitors。 Besides； we both thought that we would prefer
that our ex…boarder and his wife should not know that we were
encamped on that little peninsula。
We set to work to pack up and get ready for moving； but the
afternoon passed away without bringing old John。 Between five and
six o'clock along came his oldest boy； with a bucket of water。
〃I'm to go back after the milk；〃 he said。
〃Hold up！〃 I cried。 〃Where is your father and his wagon？ We've
been waiting for him for hours。〃
〃The horse is si I mean he's gone to Ballville for oats。〃
〃And why didn't he send and tell me？〃 I asked。
〃There wasn't nobody to send；〃 answered the boy。
〃You are not telling the truth；〃 exclaimed Euphemia； 〃there is
always some one to send； in a family like yours。〃
To this the boy made no answer； but again said that he would go
after the milk。
〃We want you to bring no milk；〃 I cried； now quite angry。 〃I want
you to go down to the station； and tell the driver of the express…
wagon to come here immediately。 Do you understand？ Immediately。〃
The boy declared he understood； and started off quite willingly。
We did not prefer to have the express…wagon； for it was too public
a conveyance； and； besides； old John knew exactly how to do what
was required。 But we need not have troubled ourselves。 The
express…wagon did not come。
When it became dark； we saw that we could not leave that night。
Even if a wagon did come； it would not be safe to drive over the
fields in the darkness。 And we could not go away and leave the
camp…equipage。 I proposed that Euphemia should go up to the house；
while I remained in camp。 But she declined。 We would keep
together； whatever happened； she said。
We unpacked our cooking…utensils and provisions； and had supper。
There was no milk for our coffee； but we did not care。 The evening
did not pass gayly。 We were annoyed by the conduct of old John and
the express…boy； though； perhaps； it was not their fault。 I had
given them no notice that I should need them。
And we were greatly troubled at the continuance of the secrecy and
subterfuge which now had become really necessary； if we did not
wish to hurt our friends' feelings。
The first thing that I thought of； when I opened my eyes in the
morning； was the fact that we would have to stay there all day； for
we could not move on Sunday。
But Euphemia did not agree with me。 After breakfast （we found that
the water and the milk had been brought very early； before we were
up） she stated that she did not intend to be treated in this way。
She was going up to old John's house herself； and away she went。
In less than half an hour； she returned； followed by old John and
his wife； both looking much as if they had been whipped。
〃These people；〃 said she； 〃have entered into a conspiracy against
us。 I have questioned them thoroughly； and have made them answer
me。 The horse was at home yesterday； and the boy did not go after
the express…wagon。 They thought that if they could keep us here；
until our company had gone； we would stay as long as we originally
intended； and they would continue to make money out of us。 But
they are mistaken。 We are going home immediately。〃
At this point I could not help thinking that Euphemia might have
consulted me in regard to her determination； but she was very much
in earnest； and I would not have any discussion before these
people。
〃Now； listen！〃 said Euphemia； addressing the down…cast couple； 〃we
are going home； and you two are to stay here all this day and to…
night； and take care of these things。 You can't work to…day； and
you can shut up your house； and bring your whole family here if you
choose。 We will pay you for the service；although you do not
deserve a cent；and we will leave enough here for you to eat。 You
must bring your own sheets and pillowcases； and stay here until we
see you on Monday morning。〃
Old John and his wife agreed to this plan with the greatest
alacrity； apparently well pleased to get off so easily； and； having
locked up the smaller articles of camp…furniture； we filled a
valise with our personal baggage and started off home。
Our house and grounds never looked prettier than they did that
morning； as we stood at the gate。 Lord Edward barked a welcome
from his shed； and before we reached the door； Pomona came running
out； her face radiant。
〃I'm awful glad to see you back；〃 she said； 〃though I'd never have
said so while you was in camp。〃
I patted the dog and looked into the garden。 Everything was
growing splendidly。 Euphemia rushed to the chicken…yard。 It was
in first…rate order； and there were two broods of little yellow
puffy chicks。
Down on her knees went my wife； to pick up the little creatures；
one by one； press their downy bodies to her cheek； and call them
tootsy…wootsies； and away went I to the barn； followed by Pomona；
and soon afterward by Euphemia。
The cow was all right。
〃I've been making butter；〃 said Pomona； 〃though it don't look
exactly like it ought to； yet； and the skim…milk I didn't know what
to do with； so I gave it to old John。 He came for it every day；
and was real mad once because I had given a lot of it to the dog；
and couldn't let him have but a pint。〃
〃He ought to have been mad；〃 said I to Euphemia； as we walked up to
the house。 〃He got ten cents a quart for that milk。〃
We laughed； and didn't care。 We were too glad to be at home。
〃But where are our friends？〃 I asked Pomona。 We had actually
forgotten them。
〃Oh！ they're gone out for a walk；〃 said she。 〃They started off
right after breakfast。〃
We were not sorry fo