he was not fond
of study, like Barbara. "We may spend a week or so in Lenox, to please
Aunt Sallie. But most of the time we want to be right in the mountains.
Let me see--there is Greylock, and Monument Mountain, and hosts of others
not too far from Lenox. At least, we shall be able to see them from our
mountain top. And we must escort Bab over to Rattlesnake Mountain, in
honor of her well known fondness for those charming pets."

"Oh, I'll look after Bab," Mollie spoke in superior tones.

"Mother," said Barbara earnestly, "you must accept Mr. Stuart's charming
invitation, even if you think it wiser for us not to go on the camping
trip with Ruth. I know you need a change. You have had so much worry, and
now your mind is at rest."

"Ruth," said Mrs. Thurston, looking as bright and happy as one of the
girls, "accept my best wishes for the 'Robin Hood Band' of 'Automobile
Girls!' I am sure they will soon rival that celebrated set of woodsmen.
Only, I beg of you, confine your adventures strictly within the limits of
the law."

"Then you mean that Bab and Mollie may go!" cried Ruth in tones of
rapture. "But we don't intend to play at being an outlaw band. Kindly
regard us as early Puritan settlers in the New England hills, compelled
to seek protection from the Indians in our log hut. I wish we could run
across a few Indians up there; we shall be right on their old camping
grounds. There are still some Indian trails in the mountains, but the
Berkshires are so highly civilized, these days, we shall never find even
a trace of a red man, or a red woman either!"

"When do we start, Ruth?" asked Mollie. "I should like to be off
to-morrow. Remember how fast the time is going. School begins the middle
of October."

"What about Grace?" asked Bab thoughtfully. "It would hardly be a real
'Automobile Girls' party if one of their number should be left out."

"Oh, it is all right about Grace, of course!" Ruth answered. "Goodness
me! Haven't I told you? We have already talked our plan over with Squire
Carter, who is delighted to have Grace go. He says a month out of doors
will do wonders for her. He only wished he was not too old to join us."

One week later, Miss Sallie Stuart and the quartette of "Automobile
Girls" gathered at the station to speed Mrs. Thurston on her journey. Mr.
Stuart was to accompany her as far as New York City, and see her safely
established among his friends.

"Be good children, all of you," urged Mrs. Th