owing wink.

"Sure; they're jealous," was the laconic reply, at which all the girls
laughed scornfully.

"We'd have to have something better than that to be jealous of," scoffed
one.

"Then we'll see you Monday, Lucy," called Jessie, as they started off
down the street. "Maybe before," she added.

"I can stand it," laughed Lucile. "Come early Monday, anyway, all of you,
and don't forget what I told you."

"We won't," they called; "don't worry!" And, indeed, she had no need for
anxiety, for the thought that filled the girls' minds to the exclusion of
everything else was:

"Our guardian is coming Monday--oh, why is it so far away?"

CHAPTER V

AS THOUGH ON WINGS

The eventful day had come at last over a wait that seemed an eternity to
the impatient girls. The long school-day was endless and, in spite of all
good resolutions, they could not keep their thoughts from wandering to
the alluring picture they had conjured up. A picture wherein figured an
open-grate fire, Miss Howland--for so they had thought of her even after
her marriage--their own dear guardian, turning suddenly to see her
camp-fire girls in their old familiar costume waiting to welcome her. How
would she look? What would she say? These were the thoughts that
persisted in haunting them through the long school-day and refused to be
shaken off.

At last it was three o'clock and the girls gathered on the campus, books
in hand, eagerly anxious to be off.

"Are we all here?" said Jessie, looking about.

"All but Grace; she'll be here any minute, I guess."

The prophecy proved correct, and soon the whole of camp-fire Aloea,
except the one who was to play the most important part, was swinging at a
great rate down the road to their meeting-place. Lucile had been excused
a few minutes earlier on the plea that she was to meet her guardian. The
few minutes' grace would give her time to see that the fire was lighted
and attend to the hundred and one minor details that would set things
running smoothly.

Rain had been threatening all day, but now the welcome sun burst through
the clouds so suddenly that the girls were surprised.

"Say, that came in a hurry, didn't it?" remarked Marjorie. "Oh, I'm so
glad."

"Who isn't?" Jessie rejoined. "The rain would have made everything so
gloomy, just when we wanted it brightest."

"It seems as if the sun knew Miss Howland was coming and just couldn't
help shining," said Margaret, with a face so like the