Part 14 (2/2)
”What do you reat difficulty, to open the other eye ”Can't you talk sense?”
”Not on ato theand thrusting her head far out into the balmy air ”Look, Lazybones, the roads are pretty nearly dry and we couldn't ask for a more wonderful day”
”What time is it?” queried Grace, without enthusiasm She was always unenthusiastic before breakfast in the et to bed rather late the night before
”Half-past six,” replied Betty, turning froether ”And we all agreed last night to get up at six I wonder if I'”
As if in answer to her question, there ca to them
”Breakfast is almost ready,” she said ”I had it prepared early especially for you”
”That was dear of you,” replied Betty, adding with the greatest of opti that three of them were not yet out of bed: ”We'll be down in ten h the ten minutes stretched into fifteen, it is a tribute to Betty's excellent generalshi+p that the dressing of the other three girls was ed in that tily up to the to do with it after all, for they all four boasted youthfully unimpaired appetites
However that may be, the fact remains that in fifteen minutes from the time Mrs Barnes stopped at the door, four very pretty and very hungry young girls gathered in the dining rooer for the day's adventure Mrs Ford was already there
Joe was there too, looking even lancing at him, could scarcely believe that what the boy had told her the night before had not been a dreaht to serve his country because he had lung trouble! She could not even bring herself to think that other word, that horrible word, consu certain--she had not been ht once have been the victim of disease, but he surely was not now
Perhaps so was reflected in her eyes as she looked at hilance with so much admiration in his own that she hastily looked away and became absorbed in the bacon on her plate
It was a very ood one, and when the ti leave of their lovely hostess, they found themselves unexpectedly reluctant to do so
”I wish you were co with us,” said Mrs Ford, after the lady had waved aside her thanks for the good time they had had ”I am sure you would enjoy the trip al you with us”
”I wish it were possible for o,” Mrs Barnes replied rather wistfully, as they started down the steps to the waiting automobiles
”It is rather lonesolance fros at once, she added hastily: ”But of course I love it and would miss it awfully Joe, be careful, dear, you nearly dropped that bag in the dirt”
”I always thought I'dprofession,” replied Joe ruefully, as he skillfully recovered the bag in question, ”but I guess I was o, Miss Billette--anywhere?” he asked, turning to Mollie
”Yes, just throw the out her engine ”Only leave room for Mrs Ford, that's all”
Then, as Amy stopped to speak to Grace, Joe escorted Betty to her little racer and helped her into the driver's seat, though little help Betty needed or asked of anyone
”It's rather a rough deal, isn't it?” he asked suddenly
”What?” inquired Betty, surprised