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 down the steps. Half-way down she stopped suddenly.

"I 'most forgot!" she exclaimed, sitting down on the step and gazing longingly at the striped hammock that hung so temptingly low only across the gravel path. "I just know I could climb into it all by myself," she said, "and this step is so hard to sit on."

Aunt Beth peeped out of the front door. "Why don't you go and try the hammock, dearie?" she called.

"I can't," said Cheery.

"Why not?" asked Aunt Beth, coming out onto the veranda in her pretty blue kimono, with the big morning-glories straggling all over it. "I had it swung low on purpose so that you could reach it."

Cheery shook her head soberly. "No," she said, "I promised The Chum I wouldn't step off the veranda until he came."

"But he won't be here for two hours!" exclaimed Aunt Beth.

"I know it," said Cheery, bravely, "but