The next afternoon, Betty helped Valerie with some puzzling problems 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.
At the end of the wall Betty and Valerie waited.—[Page 150.]