“Yes to both!” laughed Marjorie. “Wait till you see our tea-house. It can’t be beaten, can it, Marie Louise?”
“It certainly can’t!” agreed the latter, enthusiastically.
“Your house is perfectly lovely, anyhow,” remarked Florence, turning to Marie Louise. “I guess we can stand anything with such a delightful place to come to at night.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic, Flos!” reproved Alice. “It’s going to be the best summer the patrol has ever had!”
“Yes, and I know something nice about tonight, too,” added Ethel.
“What?” demanded Marjorie, eagerly.
“Oh, not that John Hadley expects to drive over and see you—though he does, of course!” replied Ethel. “But something we’ll all enjoy.”
“Chocolate layer cake, I’ll wager!” put in Marie Louise. “I’m sure I smelled one. That reminds me, girls, let’s go out in the kitchen and meet Mrs. Munsen, our housekeeper. She’s been crazy to see you all.”
“Oh, but wait a minute!” pleaded Marjorie. “There’s a car stopping at the gate. It’s probably Lily.”
A moment later the girl ran up the porch steps and greeted them all effusively. Arm in arm they made a tour of the house, visiting the kitchen to make the acquaintance of that motherly person who was to look after them during the coming months; then going on to the second floor to see their bedrooms. Marjorie and Ethel had already selected one together, and Marie Louise still kept her own daintily furnished little boudoir, which she was to share with Lily. Alice and Florence were assigned to the front room, usually occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harris, and so the remaining one was left for Daisy.