course, we will, Ephy," said Aurora--"especially after all that
fine language. You shall have your turn--I'll see to that."

It was eight o'clock when Gerald stopped the car in front of a small
village inn. The community was just bestirring itself, and the
inhabitants gazed long and curiously at the party.

Addressing a middle-aged man who sat on the front steps of the
hostelry, smoking a pipe, Gerald said:

"How about breakfast for seven?"

"Reckon we can accommodate you," was the reply, in a low drawl--"that
is, if you ain't too particular what you eat."

"Needn't worry about that. We're hungry--that's all. Some fresh milk
and eggs, some crisp slices of fried bacon, a cup of coffee, and a
few things of a similar nature will be more than sufficient."

"You've just hit off my bill o' fare to a T," the man responded,
grinning. "Come in and make yourselves at home, while I go tell
Martha there's some extry mouths to feed."

The members of the little camping party needed no urging, for the
early morning ride had given them large appetites, which they were
anxious to satiate.

Soon the Ajax was standing silent in front of the building, while its
occupants were grouped in the little parlor of the hotel, waiting the
welcome call to breakfast.

"There's a picture of George Washington," said Jim, as his glance
roamed about the room. "Wonder if there's a village hotel in any part
of the original thirteen states, which hasn't a picture of our
immortal ancestor?"

"Probably not," smiled Gerald. "Thomas Jefferson seems also to be a
favorite. See, there he is, peeking at you from behind the what-not."

"And there's Robert E. Lee, bless his heart," cried Dorothy, to whom
the southern hero's name was the occasion for no little amount of
reverence--thoughts that had been instilled in her mind by Aunt
Betty, loyal southerner that she was.

The hotel proprietor appeared on the scene a few moments later with
the cheery remark:

"You all can come into the dinin'-room now."

He led the way through the hall and into a small, though comfortable,
room, where the landlady had already begun to serve the breakfast.

Their appetites sharpened by the ride, everyone did ample justice to
the things which were put before them. Even Aunt Betty, usually a
light eater, consumed three eggs, two glasses of milk and a plate of
fried bacon, topping them off with a cup of strong coffee.

"Whatever has come over you?" cried Dorothy in delig