Mrs.Arnold, always bright and animated, surpassed herself, and waxed so amusing that the circle grew almost hysterical.
The Wood-gatherers, whose office it was to mix the cocoa, supplied cup after cup, and refilled the kettle so often that they ventured to air the time-honoured joke that the stream would run dry, for which ancient chestnut they were pelted with pebbles.
When at last nobody could even pretend to be thirsty any longer, the cups were rinsed in the pool and stacked under a tree, and the concert commenced.

Part-songs and catches sounded delightful in the open air, and solos, sung to the accompaniment of Marjorie's guitar, were equally effective.

The girls roared the choruses to popular national ditties, and special favourites were repeated again and again.

Several step-dances were executed, and had a weird effect in the unsteady light of the waning fire.

Mrs.Arnold, who was a splendid elocutionist, gave a recitation on an incident in the American War, and was enthusiastically encored.