“You’re right,” agreed Mrs. Remington, wearily. She had long ago begun to doubt the wisdom of their proceeding.
The girls climbed out of the car and stretched themselves on their blankets in its shadow. But they could not sleep long; the heat soon grew too intense, and they began to feel hungry. While Alice and Lily were preparing a hasty breakfast, Mrs. Remington and Marjorie and Ethel took council together.
“It’s my opinion,” observed Ethel caustically, “that this woman is making a good thing of us—for free passage across the desert!”
“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised,” said Marjorie. “And yet you can’t blame her. She’s poor and deserted—”
“Marj, would you make a pun at a time like this!” remonstrated Ethel. “Why, you’re almost talking in your sleep!”
“And the child isn’t a bit sick,” added Mrs. Remington, with an attempt to bring the girls back to the subject in question. “And yet—what can we do? Not leave them here in the middle of the desert—?”
“It’s where we found them!” flashed Ethel.
“But at least they had a wagon!” put in Marjorie. “No, let’s take her all the way—wherever it is—”
“She expects to go all the way back to Rawlins!” remarked Ethel. “That’s her scheme—”
“I know—but—well, if she didn’t have a child it would be different. No, let’s take her back to civilization.”