“Some cake,” said Phonny.

“Guess again,” said Mary Erskine.

“Apples,” said Phonny.

“Guess again,” said Mary Erskine.

“Why, have not I guessed right yet?” asked Phonny.

“I can’t tell you,” replied Mary Erskine.  “Only you may guess as much as you please.”

Phonny of course gave up guessing, since he was not to be told whether he guessed right or not; though he said he was sure that it was cake, or else, perhaps, some of the turn-overs.  The party walked along by very pleasant paths until they came to a field by the side of the brook.  There were trees along the banks of the brook, under which, and near the water, there were a great many cool and shady places that were very pleasant.  Mary Erskine led the way down to one of these where there was a large flat stone near the water.  She hid her two baskets in the bushes, and then directed the children to go up into the field with her and get the strawberries.  The strawberries were not only very abundant, but also very large and ripe.  Mary Erskine said that they might all eat ten, but no more.  All that they got, except ten, they must put into their dippers, until the dippers were full.  She herself went busily at work, finding strawberries and putting them into the dippers of the children, sometimes into one and sometimes into another.  In a short time the dippers were full.

The whole party then went back to the brook and sat down upon the great flat stone, with their dippers before them.  Mary Erskine then brought out one of her baskets, and lifting up the cover, she took out five saucers and five spoons.

“There,” said she, “I brought you some saucers and spoons to eat your strawberries with.  Now take up the bunches from your dippers, and pull off the strawberries from the stems, and put them in the saucers.”

While the children were all busily engaged in doing this, Mary Erskine opened the other basket, and took out a pitcher of very rich looking cream.  The sight of this treasure of course awakened in all the party the utmost enthusiasm and delight.  They went on hulling their strawberries very industriously, and were soon ready, one after another, to have the cream poured over them, which Mary Erskine proceeded to do, giving to each one of the children a very abundant supply.

[Illustration:  THE STRAWBERRY PARTY.]

Phonny finished his strawberries first, and then went to the margin of the brook to look into the water, in order, as he said, “to see if he could see any fishes.”  He did see several, and became greatly excited in consequence, calling eagerly upon the rest of the party to come down and look.  He said that he wished very much that he had a fishing-line.  Mary Erskine said that Thomas had a fishing-line, which he would lend him, she had no doubt; and away Phonny went, accordingly, to find Thomas and to get the line.

This procedure was not quite right on Phonny’s part.  It is not right to abandon one’s party under such circumstances as these, for the sake of some new pleasure accidentally coming into view, which the whole party cannot share.  Besides, Phonny left his dipper for Mary Erskine or Malleville to carry up, instead of taking care of it himself.  Mary Erskine, however, said that this was of no consequence, as she could carry it just as well as not.