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Cua…tro pa…lo…mi…tas blan…cas que vie…
nen de por alla。 U…nas a las o…tras
di…cen no hay a…mor como el de a…ca。
It is barely possible； but not likely； that anything prettier than
Bell's Mexican danza was to be seen under the light of the September
stars that night； although they were doubtless shining down upon a
thousand lovely things。 With all the brightness of her loosened hair
rising and falling with the motion of her swaying figurewith her
twinkling feet； her crimson cheeks and parted lips； she looked the
very spirit of the dance； and her enrapturedaudience only allowed
her to stop when she was absolutely breathless。
'Oh what a beautiful evening！' exclaimed Elsie； when the celebration
was finally over。 'Was there ever such a dear； dear canyon with such
dear people in it！ If it only wouldn't rain and we could live here
for ever！'
'Rain； rain； stay away！
Come again another day；
Little Elsie wants to play；'
recited Polly； and then everybody went to their straw beds。
CHAPTER XI： BREAKING CAMP
'The thirsty earth soaks up the rain；
And drinks and gapes for drink again；
The plants suck in the earth and are；
With constant drinking； fresh and fair。'
But it did rain； and it didn't wait until they were out of the canyon
either。 It began long before the proper time； and it by no means
confined itself to a shower； but opened the winter season fully a
month before there was any need of it； and behaved altogether in a
most heartless and inconsiderate manner； like a very spoil…sport of a
rain。
It began after dark； so as to be just as disagreeable as possible；
and under the too slight cover of their tents the campers could hear
the rush and the roar of it like the tramping of myriad feet on the
leaves。 Pancho and the two Chinamen huddled under the broad
sycamores in their rubber blankets； and were dry and comfortable； but
all the waterproof tents leaked； save Elsie's。
But when it was dawn； the Sun； having heard nothing apparently of any
projected change in the weather； rose at the usual time in the most
resplendent fashionbrighter； rosier； and more gloriously； if you
will believe me； than he had risen that whole long sunshiny summer！
And he really must have felt paid for getting up at such an unearthly
hour in the morning； when； after he had clambered over the grey
mountain peaks； he looked down upon Las Flores Canyon； bathed in the
light of his own golden beams。
If he knew anything about Ancient History and Biblical Geographyand
if he didn't I don't know who should； inasmuch as he had been present
from the beginning of timehe must have thought it as fair as the
Garden of Eden； for Nature's face simply shone with cleanliness； like
that of a smiling child just fresh from its bath； and every leaf of
every tree glistened as he beamed upon it； and shook off its crystal
drops that he might turn them into diamonds。
'It was only a shower；' said Dr。 Winship； as he seated himself on a
damp board and partook of a moist breakfast； 'and with this sun the
tents will be dry before night； Elsie has caught no cold； the dust
will be laid； and we can stay another week with safety。'
Everybody was hilarious over this decision save the men…of…all…work；
who longed unspeakably for a less poetic existenceHop Yet
particularly； who thought camping out 'not muchee good。'
Dicky was more pleased than anybody； perhaps； as every day in the
canyon was one day less in school； not that he had ever been to
school； but he knew in advance； instinctively； that it wouldn't suit
him。 Accordingly； he sought the wettest possible places and played
all day with superhuman energy。 He finally found Hop Yet's box of
blueing under a tree； in a very moist and attractive state of
fluidity； and just before dinner improved the last shining hour by
painting himself a brilliant hue and appearing at dinner in such a
fiendish guise that he frightened the family into fits。
Now Dr。 Winship was one of the most weather…wise men in California；
and his predictions were always quite safe and sensible； but somehow
or other it did rain again in two or three days； and it poured harder
than ever； too。 To be sure； it cleared promptly； but the doctor was
afraid to trust so fickle a person as the Clerk of the Weather had
become； and marching orders were issued。
The boys tramped over all their favourite bits of country； and the
girls visited all their best beloved haunts； every one of them dear
from a thousand charming associations。 They looked for the last time
in Mirror Pool； and saw the reflection of their facesrather grave
faces just then； over the leave…taking。
The water…mirror might have been glad to keep the picture for ever on
its surfaceMargery with her sleek braids and serene forehead； with
Polly； saucy nose and mischievous eyes； laughing at you like a merry
water…sprite； Bell； with her brilliant cheeks glowing like two roses
just fallen in the brook； and Gold Elsie； who； if you had put a frame
of green leaves about her delicate face and yellow locks； would have
looked up at you like a water…lily。
They wafted a farewell to Pico Negro； and having got rid of the boys；
privately embraced a certain Whispering Tree under whose singing
branches they had been wont to lie and listen to all the murmuring
that went on in the forest。
Then they clambered into the great thorough…brace wagon； where they
all sat in gloomy silence for ten minutes； while Dicky's tan terrier
was found for the fourth time that morning； and the long train； with
its baggage…carts； its saddle…horses and its dogged little pack…
mules； moved down the rocky steeps that led to civilisation。 The
gate that shut them in from the county road and the outer world was
opened for the last time； and shut with a clang； and it was all over…
…their summer in a canyon！
Footnotes：
｛1｝ Foot…notes by a rival of the Countess。
｛1a｝ Is that spelled right？
｛1b｝ Fifty miles an hour； Jack says。
｛1c｝ Poetic licence。
｛1d｝ Gone back to cold cream。
｛1e｝ And pie。
｛1f｝ For sale at all bookstores； ten cents a copy。
｛2｝ 'Four little white doves began to coo；
To coo to their mates so fair；
And each to the other dove said； 'Your coo
With mine cannot compare！'
End