This very positiveness was a source of great comfort to the more timid girls; in fact, all of the scouts had so much confidence in her that they rejoiced to find her so optimistic. It was only the boys who secretly experienced a feeling of dismay at her attitude. John Hadley in particular, though he liked to see Marjorie succeed in everything she undertook, had been hoping that she would give up this trip, which at the same time was so dangerous and so tiring. Besides, he hated to have the girl so far away, and so inaccessible to mail. In his inmost heart he had been cherishing the longing that something would happen to bring them nearer to home for the summer. However, he decided not to let any regrets disturb the enjoyment of this week-end.
The boys had arrived late in the afternoon, an hour or so before dinner; but Tom and his two guests had not yet put in an appearance. It was Alice who seemed most eager for them to come; perhaps this was because among the four young men now present—Jack Wilkinson, John Hadley, Dick Roberts, and Bill Warner—she was not anyone’s particular favorite.
“What are their names, Mae?” she asked.
“I forgot their first names,” replied her hostess. “Their last names are McDaniel and Cryton. They’re fraternity brothers of Tom.”
“What?” cried Florence, with a start. “Not really? Are they strangers in town?”
“I believe so. Why? Do you know them?”
“I should say we do! Why, they’re the mysterious men Alice was telling you about! Tell us about them, Mae!”
“I’m sorry,” replied the bride, “but I never heard their names mentioned before. Evidently they are not intimate friends of Tom’s. He said that they practically invited themselves; I believe they dropped into his office about some frat business, and told him he had to find them some amusement for Saturday night. Luckily, he hadn’t asked anybody else yet for the dance, so he invited them to the party.”
“And do they know that we are touring—I mean that the girls they are to meet are crossing the continent in a car?” asked Daisy, in an animated tone. “And that we are Girl Scouts—?”
“Yes, I believe Tom did mention something like that.”