CHAPTER V
AS THOUGH ON WINGS
The eventful day had come at last over a wait that seemed an eternity to the impatient girls. The long school-day was endless and, in spite of all good resolutions, they could not keep their thoughts from wandering to the alluring picture they had conjured up. A picture wherein figured an open-grate fire, Miss Howland—for so they had thought of her even after her marriage—their own dear guardian, turning suddenly to see her camp-fire girls in their old familiar costume waiting to welcome her. How would she look? What would she say? These were the thoughts that persisted in haunting them through the long school-day and refused to be shaken off.
At last it was three o’clock and the girls gathered on the campus, books in hand, eagerly anxious to be off.
“Are we all here?” said Jessie, looking about.
“All but Grace; she’ll be here any minute, I guess.”
The prophecy proved correct, and soon the whole of camp-fire Aloea, except the one who was to play the most important part, was swinging at a great rate down the road to their meeting-place. Lucile had been excused a few minutes earlier on the plea that she was to meet her guardian. The few minutes’ grace would give her time to see that the fire was lighted and attend to the hundred and one minor details that would set things running smoothly.
Rain had been threatening all day, but now the welcome sun burst through the clouds so suddenly that the girls were surprised.