At last they were set down at Friendship which they discovered consisted of scarce more than a farmhouse and a country store. A wagon would carry them the rest of the way. The new driver, who, they learned, was the man about camp, had driven over for them, but looked a little dubious when he saw the size of the party. “Guess I’ll have to leave their traps, Noey,” he said.
“Wal,” answered Noahdiah, “I’d fetch ’em along myself but I’ve got to git back, and moreover the stage couldn’t travel them rough roads. Ain’t Al got no kinder buggy or nothin’ he kin take some of ’em in? the mother and the aunt?”
“I’ll go in and see what Al kin do,” responded the man entering the little store.
“Wisht I could go all the way with ye. I’d like first-rate to see ye sot down comfortable before I left ye,” said Noahdiah confidentially. “I dunno as I ever see a likelier set o’ young misses come to camp and I’ve fetched over quite a few. Ye’re real friendly and sociable and that’s what I like. Some o’ these here prim old maid schoolmarmy kind don’t open their lips from Cross Roads to Friendship. You’d think they was struck dumb, er ef they do speak it’s like their mouths was one of these here medicine-droppers; the words come out jest as though they was squeezed from a rubber bulb t’ other end. Here comes Al and ’Lish; now we’ll see.”
After a short conference it was proposed that Mrs. Corner and Miss Helen should wait till the buggy could be made ready when they and their luggage could follow the wagon, ’Lish declaring that “six women folks even if they wasn’t full growed, with luggage” he “cal’lated,” would about fill a wagon.
“The buggy’ll be more comfortable, marm,” said Noahdiah, addressing Mrs. Corner, “and I guess you’ll have the best of it.”
“But three of us in one buggy,” she returned.
“Wal, it’s good and wide, and ye ain’t so fleshy, neither of ye, and ye kin set clost.” So there was nothing to do but make the best of it and either remain till the next day when the wagon could return for them, or forge ahead in the manner proposed. The latter course was finally decided upon and they set out, bumping over a rough road for three miles before the camp was reached.
Miss Marshall and Miss Lloyd gave them a hearty welcome and they sought their quarters to prepare for supper which they were ready enough for, after the long drive in the stage and the added one from the country store.
“Real tents,” cried Jack. “Won’t it be fun? I never did sleep in a real tent, Nan. Aren’t they cozy?”