ed but a little survey to disclose that there was none.

"If we could only see someone--send for a covered carriage, or send some
word--" began Amy.

"Oh, well, for the matter of my sister worrying, that doesn't amount to
much," interrupted Grace. "When I wrote I told her it was not exactly
certain just what day we would arrive, as I thought we might spend more
time in some places than in others. That part is all right. What's
worrying me is that we can't get to any place to spend the night--we
can't have any supper--we--"

"Girls!" cried Betty, with sudden resolve, "there is only one
thing to do!"

"What's that?" the others chorused.

"Stay here. We'll get supper here--there must be food in the house. If
the people come back we'll ask them to keep us over night--there's
room enough."

"And if they don't come?" asked Amy, shivering a little.

"Then we'll stay anyhow!" cried the Little Captain. "We are in charge and
we can't desert now."

CHAPTER XVIII

RELIEVED

That Betty's suggestion was the most sensible one which could have been
made they were all willing to admit when they had thought of it for a
little while.

"Of course it is possible for us to go out in this storm, and tramp on to
Broxton," said Betty. "But would it be wise?"

"Indeed not!" exclaimed Grace, as she glanced down at her trim suit,
which the little wetting received in the dash to the house had not
spoiled. "If we were boys we might do it, but, as it is--"

"I won't admit that we can't do it because we are _not_ boys," said
Betty. "Only just--"

"Only we're just not going out in this storm!" said Mollie, decidedly.
"We'll stay here, and if the people come back, and make a fuss, we'll
pay, just as we would at a hotel. They won't be mean enough to turn us
out, I think."

"We'll stay--and get supper," cried Betty. "Come on, I'm getting
hungrier every minute!"

"If the people do come," remarked Amy, "they ought to allow us something
for taking care of their house--I mean if they attempt to charge us as a
hotel would, we can tell them how we shut the windows--"

"At so much per window," laughed Mollie. "Oh, you are the queerest girl!"
and she hugged her.

"Well, let's get supper," proposed Betty again. "It will soon be dark,
and it isn't easy going about a strange house in the dark."

"There are lamps," said Mollie, pointing to several on a shelf in
the kitchen.

"Oh, I didn't exactly mean that," went on Betty, rolling