retorted Miss Stuart
scornfully.

Here, Ralph Ewing spoke in his most charming manner: "Miss Sallie, we do
owe you an apology and we make it with all our hearts. We had no
intention of playing any pranks when we came up the hill to see you.
Several days ago we were informed that 'The Automobile Girls' were
camping in the Berkshires. Well, Hugh and I are on our way to Boston to
join Mrs. Post, and----"

"Ralph, do let me do my share of the apologizing," interrupted Hugh. "See
here, Miss Sallie, this nonsense to-night is all my fault. Ralph was dead
against my pounding at the door and refusing to give our names; but I
thought it would be fun to stir the girls up. I knew two such valiant
girls as Ruth and Barbara would not be really frightened, even if we had
been a whole band of outlaws. It was a stupid practical joke and I am
ashamed of it."

"But how did you find us, Hugh?" put in Ruth, who was embarrassed by her
aunt's lack of cordiality to their old Newport friends.

"Please, Aunt Sallie, say you'll forgive us!" Hugh pleaded. "See how many
miles we have traveled to see you. We would have been here in the broad
daylight, only one of the tires in my machine would get a puncture. The
man at the garage told us which hill to climb to find you. We met your
guide coming down the hill, and he gave us further instructions. So here
we are! Aren't you just a little glad to see us?"

"Of course, I am," laughed Aunt Sallie, amiably. "But there is one thing
certain: you can't get down our hill again to-night, and we have no place
to offer you to sleep."

"Is that what is preying on my hospitable aunt's mind all this time?"
cried Ruth, throwing her arms about Miss Sallie. "I thought she wasn't
her usual charming self. Of course the boys shan't go down the hill again
to-night. I don't know where they will sleep, either; but Bab will bring
her fertile brain to bear upon the situation."

"Why, Miss Stuart!" Ralph spoke in relieved tones. "Is this why you are
not pleased to see us? We expect to go down the hill a little later. On
our way up we stopped at a farm house, and the people promised to take us
in for the night. We'll come back early in the morning, since Hugh and I
must be off again by afternoon. Mrs. Post is waiting for us in Boston."

"Oh, must you go so soon, boys?" pleaded Ruth. "We are planning the
jolliest lark. We are to have a coon hunt up on the hill with some
acquaintances we have just made in Lenox. They are