In a few minutes they came across Mr. Pattison, who had met some one who saw Joanne come out the gate and ride in the direction Dr. Selden had taken. Then the story had to be told a second time and a second warning given which reduced Joanne to tears and so worked upon the feelings of her two cavaliers that they began to cheer her up and she arrived at the farm in quite a serene, though still humble, frame of mind.
On her way from the stables she took possession of her grandfather’s hand and laid her cheek against it. “Grad, dear,” she said, “I didn’t really mean to do wrong; I just didn’t think of anything but what fun it would be to go cantering off all alone. I felt so free, like a bird. Please don’t say anything to Gradda about those boys; she’d be scared to death in the first place and in the second she’d never want me to ride Chico again. After all, the boys were only teasing; they didn’t do anything to hurt me.”
“It isn’t a matter to make light of,” replied Dr. Selden, “but perhaps we’d better not tell your grandmother, for, as you say, she’d be frightened out of her wits and wouldn’t sleep nights for thinking of what might have happened to you.”
“But she needn’t be afraid any more that Chico would throw me or run away with me. You might tell her that I really can ride, just to satisfy her.”
Her grandfather smiled, but he promised.
It was a temptation to Joanne to tell the girls at school of her adventure, but partly because she was rather ashamed of it she did not tell, notwithstanding that she did confide to Winnie that she could ride like the wind.
But Winnie was more interested in learning whether there was a possibility of making the trip to the farm with the Sunflower Troop of Girl Scouts. “Did you find out from your cousin anything about it?” she asked eagerly.
“Oh, yes, it was one of the first things I asked him. He says we might be able to go by way of the canal; he is going to find out. There is a grain boat that comes down to Georgetown; he knows the man who runs it, and he’ll ask him. The boat is loaded going down but there is plenty of room going back. Cousin Ned says we can stay at the bungalow and welcome, for we couldn’t make the trip there and back in a day unless we went by automobile, then we could.”
“Oh, but it would be simply gorgeous to stay all night, such a weird experience. I’d adore it; so would the other girls. How many could we stow away?”
“Let me see,” Joanne considered, “there are two rooms up-stairs with double beds; that would accommodate four, and there is a sleeping porch down-stairs where two cots are, and there are some extra cots, I believe, for Cousin Ned sometimes has quite a house party. I should think eight of us could be quite comfortable.”