Rollo in Society Part 2

"Surely," thought Rollo, "if I should give my dime to this young lady it would not be spending it." After some reflection he placed the dime in the saucer, for which he was rewarded by a kind smile, and gathering up his cap and his fish he joined his companions in the hall-way.

"Good-bye, Stella, Good-bye, Anabelle, Good-bye, Rupie!" cried Rollo, waving his fish at them, and they all cried "Good-bye," and promised Rollo they should have another holiday together soon.

As he walked homeward Rollo realized that perhaps he ought not to have angled in the little fountain. But here were his fish and what was he to do with them? Just then he saw a lady putting a letter in an iron box which was fastened to a post on a corner of the street. "Just the place for my fis.h.!.+" thought Rollo and suiting the action to the word he popped the little fish in the box and went on his way.

ROLLO'S WEEK-END IN THE COUNTRY

HOW OUR LITTLE HERO BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH AN OUTDOOR GAME AND ALSO ONE PLAYED INDOORS

One bright morning, as Rollo stood by the window of the handsome city apartment to which his family had moved, his mother entered the room and said:

"Rollo, how should you like to spend a week-end in the country?"

"Ho, ho," laughed Rollo. "That is a droll idea! Here we are in the city, whither we have but just come, and you propose that I should return to the country. Ho ho! ho ho!"

It was very wrong of Rollo to laugh at his mother so, but his mother realized that he was a little boy and did not know all there was to be known in the world. She therefore answered him gently.

"My son, you do not understand. The country I speak of differs from the country where we formerly lived."

"In what way?" asked Rollo.

"That you will soon see," replied his mother. "But let me ask you a question; what used you to do in the country?"

"Well," answered Rollo, "let me see; first I used to carry the milk-pails up from the cow-barn for Jonas; then I would sweep the steps and well-kerb and draw a fresh pail of water from the well.

During the day I would pile wood, gather potatoes, rake up after the hay-wagon, or weed the garden. Then in the evening I often did my sums or helped with the churning."

"Very good," said his mother. "Now in the country I speak of, you will do none of these things."

"Hurrah!" cried Rollo.

"Be silent," said his mother. "You must not interrupt. Your Cousin Stella's mother has written to me asking if you could not come to them in the country to spend a week-end."

"Which end of the week should I spend?" asked Rollo.

"Both," said his mother. "Or rather, the end of one week and the beginning of another, for you are to go on Friday and stay over Lord's Day. Should you like to go?"

"Indeed, yes," said Rollo pleasantly.

"Very well, I shall speak to your father about it this evening, for we must first have his consent."

"Oh, dear," said Rollo.

"I do not see why Rollo should be sent to the country when we have just moved to the city," said Rollo's father when the expedition was explained to him. "It seems very strange to me that city-folk with magnificent palaces to live in should, at this time of year, seal up their doors and windows and go to the expense of living in another place."

"But there will be no expense in connection with this journey," said Rollo's mother. "Cousin Stella is to send her automobile."

"Very well," said Rollo's father, "since you are all so set on Rollo's going I will agree to it. And now I must go to bed, for I have had a busy day at the grain-market. Good-night to all."

"Good-night," said Rollo's mother and Jonas, and Rollo added "Good-_night_" more loudly than any.

You may be sure that little Rollo was up at day-dawn, his luncheon ready in a box, his travelling satchel neatly packed. Presently the largest automobile he had ever seen rolled up to the door, and to his delight, there was his Cousin Stella sitting on the back seat.

"Shall I sit with you, or with the gentleman on the front seat?" asked Rollo.

"With me," cried his Cousin Stella, laughing gaily. "Alley, Jong, a Sootomtom."

"What was that you said?" questioned Rollo when the journey had really begun.

"That was French," explained his cousin. "'Alley a Sootomtom' means 'Go to Southampton.' 'Jong' is French for John."

"Well, I declare!" cried Rollo. "Really Cousin, you amaze me. But tell me, where are we, and whither are we going?"

"This is Long Island," said Stella, pointing to level fields which bordered the highway.

"It seems to be mainly cabbages," said Rollo, "but I do not see any water."

"You will presently," said Stella. And sure enough, after they had travelled at a very rapid pace for a short time, Rollo began to catch glimpses of blue water dotted with tiny white sails. Coming as he did from an inland community, this excited Rollo very much and he kept shouting "Hurrah! Hurrah!" and asking John to go faster.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "A gentleman in a dress suit took his lunch-box"]

To this John only shook his head and smiled.

"He is going as fast as he can," said Cousin Stella. "But I will tell the world, Rollo, you are a good sport."

"I thank you very much," said Rollo politely.

Shortly after this they drove through winding hills and stopped before a large house where, to Rollo's surprise, a gentleman in a dress-suit took his lunch-box and satchel from him and walked away with them as rapidly as possible.

Then another neatly dressed gentleman guided Rollo through many long hall-ways and up a flight of stairs to a beautiful chamber.

"This is your room, sir," he said.

"Is it so?" said Rollo. "Thank you, sir."

The gentleman smiled pleasantly, and went out, leaving Rollo alone.

Looking at the handsome three-dollar watch which his father had given him, he saw to his surprise that it was long past his supper-hour.

"Very evidently I am too late for supper," thought Rollo. Fortunately he still had his lunch-box which he had not thought to open during the journey, so that from this he supped very well indeed, slipped off his garments, said his evening prayer by the side of a very grand bed and was soon asleep.

"Well, Rollo," said Stella's mother, who was his hostess next morning, "we missed you last night at dinner. Where were you?"

"You must mean supper, do you not?" answered Rollo, and then explained how he had supped in his room the evening before, at which all the company laughed merrily.

"You are a dear boy, Rollo," said his hostess, "but you must remember that we have dinner at eight o'clock."