On one side was the bowling-green, which the girls had taken possession of for their croquet-ground,a wonderful enclosure surrounded by high hedges of holly, three hundred years old and more; on the other, the ruins.

Shrieks of horror from the young ladies, who desist from knocking their croquet-balls into the orchestra and the proscenium boxes; and triumphant falling of a new act-drop.

A croquet party has assembled in Mrs. TIMOTHY LADLE'S front yard, located in one of the most romantic spots in that sylvan retreat, the State of Indiana.

MICHAEL LADLE and ARCHIBALD BLINKSOP were interrupted in their conversation by BELINDA, who sent off the former under pretence that the croquet players were waiting for him, or, as she expressed it, it was "his turn to mallet.

A croquet match.

In that hour he had heard of the observing of special days, Thanksgiving and Christmas particularly; of the rage for athletic equipment on every farm which had youngsters, so that the usual anaemic croquet outfit had given place to basketball practice sets, indoor-outdoor ball, volley-ball nets, and other paraphernalia.

The only other signs of life were the two super-aborigines who inhabit the croquet patch and detest all other mankind.

"I'm almost sure I sent some hammocks and a croquet set," remarked Uncle John.

He turned next to the top shelf of his cupboard; but here the nurse had stored Paul's old toys, his sand-pails, shovels and croquet-box.

She was to meet Tommy presently on the croquet lawn of the Dovecot, when Ailie was to play Mr. James (the champion), and she decided that she must wait till then.

An old parlour-croquet mallet was found for her, with which she rapped on the table after the manner of a grave and dignified chairman.