very good."

"He is indeed," agreed Billie. "He is a very remarkable young man."

Phoebe seemed about to speak again, but kept silent. It was difficult
for her to carry on a conversation.

"I love him," she said at last, so simply and innocently that Billie
smiled in spite of the earnestness of Phoebe's expression.

"You love everyone, do you not, Phoebe? It is what you have learned by
yourself up here in the mountain."

"I cannot do that," answered Phoebe. "I have tried but I cannot. But I
love Mr. Hook. May God protect him always and reward him for his
kindness."

Billie looked away abashed. She had never heard anyone speak like that
before outside of a church. She, too, hoped that God would protect
Richard, but she would not have said it for worlds. She hoped also that
Richard would be waiting for them at Sunrise Camp when they returned. He
was not there, however. Miss Campbell, with Nancy and Percy, had looked
for him in vain.

"No, he has not come back," said the little lady. "And neither has Dr.
Hume. Where is that foolish man? He shouldn't have left us without news
all this time."

"Richard should remember that he is a guest and not an independent
traveler," exclaimed Maggie Hook. "I don't think he has any right to go
off and stay like this."

"Now, Maggie, you are worrying and it's very foolish," put in practical
Amy Swinnerton. "You know perfectly well he'll be back by nightfall."

Nobody felt quite in the humor to do anything. The day was exceedingly
hot and the sun on its downward course in the heavens was like a red
ball. Most of the party scattered for naps and letter writing and did
not meet again until sunset.

That afternoon as they gathered around the supper table, Alberdina
brought a note to Miss Campbell, written in a strange, old-fashioned
handwriting on a scrap of paper. It read:

"Do not be uneasy. I have gone in search of Mr. Hook. Phoebe."

Miss Campbell groaned as she read the message aloud.

"Really, Billie," she exclaimed reproachfully, "you and your father
between you induced me to come to this place for peace and rest----"

Billie's eyes filled with tears.

"Never mind, child," added the distracted lady. "It's not your fault."

"It all came about," remarked Mary, who was fond of tracing things to
their beginnings, "because Billie bought a pail of blackberries from
Phoebe one morning and Mrs. Lupo was angry."

This might be considered an interesting and perfectly true s