ems
that must be solved before starting out.

Then with confidence on Betty's part, and much doubt in Valerie's mind
as to their ability to find the hut, they set off on the long walk.
After twice enquiring of people whom they met, of taking a long walk in
the wrong direction, and retracing their steps, they finally espied the
piece of stone wall that seemed to belong to "no place at all," as
Marcus had said.

Glad to rest, they paused there to look about them, and to wait for
Vera and Elf, who had promised to meet them. Neither was in sight,
although they had said that they would be prompt. Snow and ice had fled,
and now everywhere were signs of spring. Vera had declared that the long
walk was what she needed, and Elf had said that she would endure the
walk for the sake of hearing the quaint stories of the town and its
people that old Cornelia would tell.

At the end of the wall Betty and Valerie waited.

"I'd not wait much longer," Valerie said.

"I surely will _not_!" Betty replied, "for if they are coming, they'll
be here in a few minutes."

It was evident that the two girls had, for some reason, been detained,
and Betty determined to wait no longer.

[Illustration: AT THE END OF THE WALL BETTY AND VALERIE WAITED.--_Page
150._]

"Come!" she cried. "We'll go on now to the little hut, and if Vera
and Elf come poking along a half-hour later, they can just sit on this
wall, and see if they enjoy waiting as well as we did."

It was but a short distance, and they ran part of the way to make up for
lost time, but when they reached the gate they found, as Valerie glanced
at her tiny watch, that it was later than they thought, and was already
about time for them to turn toward Glenmore, if they did not wish to be
late.

Hours were strictly kept at the school, and all pupils must return from
recreation in time to give themselves personal care, and be in the lower
hall at five-thirty for a friendly chat before going to the dining-room
at six.

Mrs. Marvin insisted that every pupil look her best at all times.

It was now four o'clock. It would take a half-hour to reach Glenmore.
That meant that not more than a half-hour could be spent at the hut.

There was no answer to their repeated knocking, but as they turned to go
they saw old Cornelia coming toward them along the road, a big basket on
her arm.

"Well, well, two fine little callers I find waiting for me," she said.
"And what can I do for you?"

"We wan