“There might be many reasons,” said Tante soothingly. “But whatever they are, you mustn’t worry. You must get all the sunshine you can out of this golden summer. You had better go with the girls on this nice trip.”
“Something has happened to Father,” said Anne uneasily. “I have suspected for some time that things weren’t going right. He seems so different. It isn’t like him to sell the animals, even Plon and the old pony.”
“You must be a brave girl,” said Tante, putting her arms around Anne’s shoulders. “If anything happens, we will all stand by, Anne. Friends do help when they get together as we try to do at Round Robin.”
“The girls are all right,” said Anne. “If you say so, I will go with them. And I should like to see an eagle’s nest.”
“That’s right! I have put up a luncheon for you already,” said Tante. “I was sure you would go.”
Anne straightened her shoulders and hurried away to get ready for the climb. Presently she joined the brown group in broad hats and with business-like knapsacks strapped to their shoulders, who were gathered at the back of the camp. The girls were going alone this once. For Hugh and Victor were away for a three-days’ camping trip in the deep woods, and Dick, excused from studies for that time, was acting as Camp Protector in their absence.
“Be sure you keep together and follow your leader,” Tante charged them as she waved good-bye.
“Who is the leader?” asked Anne of Beverly Peyton, who was waiting for her at the end of the line. “Why, Nelly Sackett, of course. She knows the way better than anybody.”
“I didn’t know she was going!” said Anne, hanging back. She felt not unfriendly to Nelly. But she could not get used to the idea of this freckled country girl as a leader in her Club. Anne liked to be a leader herself, or to choose whom she would follow.
“Tante would not let us go without Nelly,” said Beverly. “None of the others have been over the trail this season, not even Nancy. But Tante said we might go if we would be very careful.”