`Welcome to Camp Laurence!' said the young host, as they landed, with exclamations of delight.

`Brooke is commander-in-chief; I am commissary-general; the other fellows are staff-officers; and you, ladies, are company. The tent is for your especial benefit, and that oak is your drawing room; this is the messroom, and the third is the camp-kitchen. Now, let's have a game before it gets hot, and then we'll see about dinner.'

Frank, Beth, Amy, and Grace sat down to watch the game played by the other eight. Mr. Brooke chose Meg, Kate, and Fred; Laurie took Sallie, Jo, and Ned. The Englishers played well; but the Americans played better, and contested every inch of the ground as strongly as if the spirit of '76 inspired them. Jo and Fred had several skirmishes, and once narrowly escaped high words. Jo was through the last wicket, and had missed the stroke, which failure ruffled her a good deal. Fred was close behind her, and his turn came before hers; he gave a stroke, his ball hit the wicket, and stopped an inch on the wrong side. No one was very near; and running up to examine, he gave it a sly nudge with his toe, which put it just an inch on the right side.

`I'm through! Now, Miss Jo, I'll settle you, and get in first,' cried the young gentleman, swinging his mallet for another blow.

`You pushed it! I saw you; it's my turn now,' said Jo, sharply.

`Upon my word, I didn't move it; it rolled a bit, perhaps, but that is allowed; so stand off, please, and let me have a go at the stake.'

`We don't cheat in America, but you can, if you choose, said Jo, angrily.

`Yankees are a deal the most tricky, everybody knows. There you go!' returned Fred, croqueting her ball far away.

Jo opened her lips to say something rude, but checked herself in time, coloured up to her forehead, and stood a minute hammering down a wicket with all her might, while Fred hit the stake, and declared himself out with much exultation. She went off to get her ball, and was a long time finding it among the bushes; but she came back, looking cool and quiet, and waited her turn patiently. It took several strokes to regain the place she had lost; and, when she got there, the other side had nearly won, for Kate's ball was the last but one, and lay near the stake.

`By George, it's all up with us! Good-bye, Kate. Miss Jo owes me one, so you are finished,' cried Fred, excitedly, as they all drew near to see the finish.

`Yankees have a trick of being generous to their enemies,' said Jo, with a look that made the lad redden, `especially when they beat them,' she added, as, leaving Kate's ball untouched, she won the game by a clever stroke.

Laurie threw up his hat; then remembering that it wouldn't do to exult over the defeat of his guests, he stopped in the middle of a cheer to whisper to his friend: `Good for you, Jo! He did cheat, I saw him; we can't tell him so, but he won't do it again, take my word for it.'

Meg drew her aside, under pretence of pinning up a loose braid, and said approvingly: `It was dreadfully provoking; but you kept your temper, and I'm so glad, Jo.'

`Don't praise me, Meg, for I could box his ears this minute. I should certainly have boiled over if I hadn't stayed among the nettles till I got my rage under enough to hold my tongue. It's simmering now, so I hope he'll keep out of my way,' returned Jo, biting her lips, as she glowered at Fred from under her big hat.