"Oh, no," the Chief Guardian replied smilingly.

   "Any bugth?"

   "Naturally, there are some insects; fleas, perhaps, but you don't mind those."

   "No. My father thayth I hop around like a thand flea at a clam bake mythelf, but if I wath

   fat I couldn't do that, could I?" asked Tommy with a sidelong glance at Buster.

   Margery, who had been an interested listener to the conversation, now turned her back, elevating her nose disdainfully. She made no reply to Tommy's fling at her. Harriet already had gone to bring the canvas, which was to be their bed for the night. She determined on the morrow to make bough beds for herself and companions, provided any suitable boughs were to be had. The canvas was dragged to a level spot. Jane and Hazel scraped the ground clean and smooth while Harriet was beating the canvas to get the dust out of it. This done, the canvas was spread out on the ground and folded over twice, leaving sufficient of it to cover them after they had taken their positions for the night.

   Tommy regarded the preparations with mild interest.

   "Who ith going to thleep next to the wall?" she asked.

   "We thought we should place you next to the fold," replied Miss Elting. "You can't kick the cover off there."

   "And where ith Buthter going to thleep?"

   "In the middle."

   "That ith all right. I don't withh to be too clothe to her. We might thquabble all night."

   "Now, Tommy, you first," nodded Harriet.

   Tommy took her place on the canvas with great care, gathering her skirts about her, turning around and around as if in search of the softest possible place on which to lie.

   "You are thure Buthter ithn't going to thleep near me?" persisted Miss Tommy.

   "Yes, yes. Please get in," urged Miss Elting.

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