of my holiday."

Maggie laughed, and Billie wondered what kind of work this unusual young
man did that sent out sudden calls in the very middle of hard-earned
vacations.

However, it was arranged that the caravanners should meander back toward
Sunrise Camp and in the course of time stop there for a visit.

"They are delightful young people," Miss Campbell said. "I don't know
who they are, I'm sure, nor what the young man does, but I find them
quite the most charming young people with the exception of my own that I
ever met."

"It's rather strange about his work," remarked Dr. Hume. "I don't know
what he does now, but he wishes above all things to be a farmer, he
informed me. He's always looking for farms as he journeys along the
road. That's one of the reasons why he got the van, in order to see the
country and decide where he'd like best to locate."

They were not so merry on the journey back as they had been on the trip
of the morning before. For one reason those who had slept in open camp
had not had off their clothes for twenty-four hours, and all of them
felt the crying need of baths after the two dusty journeys. But there
was another reason besides these physical ones. They were beginning to
feel conscience-stricken about Alberdina. How had she taken their long,
unexplained absence? Would she still be singing "Ach, mein lieber
Augustine!" when they returned, and would there be a long clothes line
bowed under the weight of clean white linen bleaching in the sun ready
to be ironed? So restless did they grow under these speculations, that
they did not pause for lunch and, urging the "Comet" to the limit of his
speed, they reached home a little before noon. Alberdina was there.
Thank heavens for that. They could see her plainly as they turned the
curve in the road. But her appearance was not promising. Perched on her
head was that absurd comedy hat. She was sitting down, quite low, on the
iron-bound trunk, in fact, leaning on her large cotton umbrella, as one
prepared to depart on a journey.

If you have ever lived in a remote spot with an uncertain maid, you will
recall how apologetic you were to her for your own shortcomings.

"Oh, dear, what shall I say to her?" exclaimed Miss Campbell. "She looks
as if she were ready to go this minute."

"Why can't we tell her the truth? We simply couldn't help it," said
Billie. "She ought not to be angry over something we couldn't control."

"You don't know them, but I'