In the growing
light it might be seen that Phoebe had an unusually beautiful face. Her
eyes, of very dark blue, were almost black at times; her reddish brown
hair, coiled into a thick knot on her neck, grew low on her forehead.
Her features were well molded, her mouth fine and strong, and a full,
rounded chin added sweetness to her expression.

Standing in the very spot where she had first seen Billie and Mary, she
turned her face toward the east and watched for the sun.

"I believe my prayers are answered," she said.

Some twenty minutes later, seated by Ben in the motor car, she guided
him along a mountain road, which led at last to a point near her
father's cabin.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GYPSY COOKS.

"Dearest Papa:" (wrote Billie) "Cousin Helen has entirely recovered from
her fright,--anger she calls it. She is not afraid of either of the
Lupos, although the dent in the plank where the knife was still standing
when we finally did get home will always make me feel trembly. Dr. Hume
is making us a visit. Cousin Helen will not hear of his leaving us. She
says she will certainly have another attack of heart failure if he goes
away, but that it's of a different variety from the last. I think we all
have a touch of that kind of heart disease as a matter of fact, boys and
girls. He is a wonderful man and has taken us on some beautiful walks
over the mountain. Nancy and Percy always stay behind with Cousin Helen,
and we are finally beginning to understand that it's as much preference
as self-denial. Nancy and I are doing the cooking with some help from
Ben and Dr. Hume. It's great fun. We cook on a camp fire outside and not
on that wretched little stove, which is like a bad child and never
behaves when it is expected to. Ben and Percy wash the dishes. Thank
heavens for that. I could never make a living as a scullery maid. It's a
dog's life. Elinor and Mary make up our cots and keep things tidy. It is
really and truly camping now, and such a relief not to have those Lupos.
But there is trouble about the laundry. Nobody in these high places will
stoop to wash clothes. If you could send us up a strong, fearless girl,
it doesn't matter how little she knows, it would be fine. We want her
strong to scour pans and wash clothes, and fearless enough to be left at
the camp alone when we all go off in the 'Comet' on a picnic.

"The mountain girl who saved us is named Phoebe. Her father is not
insane, but he has no memory.