he sets himself
up stiff as stiff and said he had no time to waste visiting. He'd got to
learn the business soon as he could, for his mother--Oh! a lot of bosh
about his mother, and her trusting him. Even my father--"

"Never mind him, then, but tell me how in the world you happened to come
just here and now?"

The two had retreated to the window and stood with arms about each other
and Dorothy's eyes now free from tears. Indeed, so surprising was this
whole affair that she had, for a moment, forgotten Aunt Betty's
departure.

"Why, it's this way. Mr. Ford is an old friend of Papa's and when he
found out that you knew us, too, he just planned the whole thing for a
grand treat to you! He wrote Papa that he was under 'lifelong
obligation to you' because--well, of something or other. I wasn't told
what, but it doesn't matter. The thing that does matter is that we're to
be together all summer long, at least for three whole months. Think of
that, girlie, just think of that! He wrote Papa, too, that he'd have
liked to gather the whole 'House Party' together if it had been
practical, but his wife didn't think it would. I reckon she knew she'd
have her hands full enough, chaperoning eight youngsters, without asking
more. We came pretty near not getting Helena and Herbert, though! Mr.
Montaigne fancied it was too much like an imposition to let them come,
because he didn't know the Fords. Helena wrote me that, so I got Dad to
send him a letter to make him stop and think! Besides, Jim--that boy is
just grand! He--"

"Of course, honey. He's a boy, you know."

"Laugh away! I'm too happy to care. I do like boys best. Why shouldn't
I? They're heaps more fun than girls--except you. And to think! Helena
and Jim were the real chaperons of our trip, though Helena's governess,
Miss Milliken, was called such. But she's a stick! I had the time of my
life, keeping her scared all the way on. Oh! I'm glad to be off that
train. Mr. Ford says we're to finish our journey in wagons. I like
that."

"But I don't see Miss Milliken, Molly."

"No. She knows some people here in Denver and they met her at the
station and carried her off to dine with them. I wish she'd get belated
and left behind. She was a regular kill-joy all the way out."

"Poor, meek, timid woman! She used to have so little snap that Herbert
nicknamed her 'The Worm.' It was horrid--"

"Well, she's 'turned,' then. Of course, we were pretty full of fun and
scared her with so