Eight cousins : or, The aunt-hill

—172 EIGHT COUSINS.roasting frolic after tea, won't we ? " said Rose, plungingboth hands into a bag ofglossy brown nuts, whilethe clan " stood at ease " and nodded to Ariadne." That lot was picked especially for you, Rosy. Igot every one myself, and they areextra whackers,"said Mac, presenting a bushel or so."You should have seen Giglamps when he was afterthem. He pitched out of the tree, and would havebroken his blessed old neck if Arch had not caughthim," observed Steve, as he lounged gracefully inwindow seat.the" You need n't talk, Dandy, when you did n't knowa chestnut from a beech, and kept on thrashing tilltold you of it," retortedMac, festooning himself overthe back of the sofa, being a privileged boy."I don't make mistakes when I thrash you, oldWorm, so you 'd better mind what you are about," answeredSteve, without a ray of proper respect for hiselder brother." It is getting dark, and I must go, or mamma willbe alarmed," said Ariadne, rising in sudden haste,though she hoped to be asked to remain to the nutparty.No one invited her ; and all the while she was puttingon her things and chatting to Rose the boys weretelegraphing to one another the sad fact that some oneought to escort the young lady home. Not a boy feltheroic enough to cast himself into the breach, however ;even polite Archie shirked the duty, saying toICharlie,as they quietly slipped into an adjoining room,"I'm not going to do all the gallivanting. LetSteve take that chit home and show his manners."