o gather her things together. "And we all agreed last night
to get up at six. I wonder if I'm the only one stirring."

As if in answer to her question, there came a soft tap on the door and
their hostess' voice speaking to them.

"Breakfast is almost ready," she said. "I had it prepared early
especially for you."

"That was dear of you," replied Betty, adding with the greatest of
optimism, considering that three of them were not yet out of bed: "We'll
be down in ten minutes."

Although the ten minutes stretched into fifteen, it is a tribute to
Betty's excellent generalship that the dressing of the other three girls
was managed in that time.

But perhaps the aroma of bacon floating temptingly up to them had
something to do with it after all, for they all four boasted youthfully
unimpaired appetites.

However that may be, the fact remains that in fifteen minutes from the
time Mrs. Barnes stopped at the door, four very pretty and very hungry
young girls gathered in the dining room, ready and eager for the day's
adventure. Mrs. Ford was already there.

Joe was there too, looking even more bronzed and attractive in the
morning light, and Betty, glancing at him, could scarcely believe that
what the boy had told her the night before had not been a dream. That
splendid specimen of young manhood refused the right to serve his
country because he had lung trouble! She could not even bring herself to
think that other word, that horrible word, consumption.

But there was one thing certain--she had not been mistaken in her
judgment of the night before. He might once have been the victim of
disease, but he surely was not now.

Perhaps something of what she was thinking was reflected in her eyes as
she looked at him, for he returned the glance with so much admiration in
his own that she hastily looked away and became absorbed in the bacon on
her plate.

It was a very merry breakfast and a very good one, and when the time
came at last for taking leave of their lovely hostess, they found
themselves unexpectedly reluctant to do so.

"I wish you were coming with us," said Mrs. Ford, after the lady had
waved aside her thanks for the good time they had had. "I am sure you
would enjoy the trip almost as much as we would enjoy having you with
us."

"I wish it were possible for me to go," Mrs. Barnes replied rather
wistfully, as they started down the steps to the waiting automobiles.
"It is rather lonesome out here," then, catch