“Oh, we’d be willing to give up our tent and go in with Bertha and Carrie,” said Alice. “Mother and Aunt Ellen could keep their cabin.”
“Or Miss Marshall could put up more tents,” said Carrie. “We would gladly stay only that we have made all our arrangements to go to the shore and must not disappoint our friends there.”
Jo gave Nan a sly look. It was like both Carrie and Florence to be very sure their presence would be desired. “As if we cared,” said Jo later. “We shall have a much better time without them, I’m sure. It will be jolly to have just our own crowd.”
True to his word Mr. Wells was not long in appearing to prefer his request and succeeded in obtaining a reluctant consent from Mrs. Corner after Miss Helen had promised to go with Jack each time she should pose. The fact that the young man was a friend of Dr. Paul was in his favor and, moreover, he was liked on his own account. As soon as he found out there was a possibility of Dr. Paul’s coming to the camp he immediately raised a protest. “My dear lady,” he said to Mrs. Corner, “that won’t do at all. I must have him up at the shack, of course. I’ll write him this very night. With Pinch away I’m consumed with loneliness.”
“But if Mr. Pinch returns,” said Mrs. Corner.
A broad smile lighted up the young man’s face. “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Corner; his name isn’t Pinch, you know; that’s only a nickname. He is legally known as John Sylvester Romaine. But even if he comes back there is room and to spare. We often put up three or four of the boys at Place o’ Pines.”
“Place o’ Pines!” The name again gave Nan a queer feeling. “Would you mind telling me how you happened to give your place that name?” she asked as she was walking to the lake with this new acquaintance. Being the eldest of the Corner girls this privilege was tacitly accorded her.
“Why, your Dr. Paul suggested it. At least he told me of a little girl he knew down there in Virginia who named her favorite haunt that, and used to go there to play on a make-believe piano made of an old log.”
The ready color flew to Nan’s cheek. To be sure Dr. Paul had not betrayed her name, but he had given up her secret to this stranger, and though long ago the place had been deserted and was now unused and neglected, Nan could but have a small pang and her face showed something of what she felt.
The young man watched her curiously and presently he said hesitatingly: “It couldn’t be that you were the little girl and that I have filched the name from you.”