`` I have n't heard Frank laugh so much for ever so long , '' said Grace to Amy , as they sat discussing dolls and making tea sets out of the acorn cups . `` My sister Beth is a very fastidious girl , when she likes to be , '' said Amy , well pleased at Beth 's success . She meant ` facinating ' , but as Grace did n't know the exact meaning of either word , fastidious sounded well and made a good impression . An impromptu circus , fox and geese , and an amicable game of croquet finished the afternoon . At sunset the tent was struck , hampers packed , wickets pulled up , boats loaded , and the whole party floated down the river , singing at the tops of their voices . Ned , getting sentimental , warbled a serenade with the pensive refrain ... Alone , alone , ah ! Woe , alone , and at the lines ... We each are young , we each have a heart , Oh , why should we stand thus coldly apart ? he looked at Meg with such a lackadiasical expression that she laughed outright and spoiled his song . `` How can you be so cruel to me ? '' he whispered , under cover of a lively chorus . `` You 've kept close to that starched-up Englishwoman all day , and now you snub me . '' `` I did n't mean to , but you looked so funny I really could n't help it , '' replied Meg , passing over the first part of his reproach , for it was quite true that she had shunned him , remembering the Moffat party and the talk after it . Ned was offended and turned to Sallie for consolation , saying to her rather pettishly , `` There is n't a bit of flirt in that girl , is there ? '' `` Not a particle , but she 's a dear , '' returned Sallie , defending her friend even while confessing her shortcomings . `` She 's not a stricken deer anyway , '' said Ned , trying to be witty , and succeeding as well as very young gentlemen usually do . On the lawn where it had gathered , the little party separated with cordial good nights and good-byes , for the Vaughns were going to Canada . As the four sisters went home through the garden , Miss Kate looked after them , saying , without the patronizing tone in her voice , `` In spite of their demonstrative manners , American girls are very nice when one knows them . '' `` I quite agree with you , '' said Mr. Brooke . CHAPTER THIRTEEN CASTLES IN THE AIR Laurie lay luxuriously swinging to and fro in his hammock one warm September afternoon , wondering what his neighbors were about , but too lazy to go and find out . He was in one of his moods , for the day had been both unprofitable and unsatisfactory , and he was wishing he could live it over again .
The hot weather made him indolent , and he had shirked his studies , tried Mr. Brooke 's patience to the utmost , displeased his grandfather by practicing half the XXXXX , frightened the maidservants half out of their wits by mischievously hinting that one of his dogs was going mad , and , after high words with the stableman about some fancied neglect of his horse , he had flung himself into his hammock to fume over the stupidity of the world in general , till the peace of the lovely day quieted him in spite of himself .
American Canada Laurie Meg Ned Vaughns afternoon day fro nights