“There are so many boys that the big boat will go after them.”
“And what do we do?”
“The program will be announced at breakfast or dinner, I think. Probably there will be some games, different things to make us get acquainted. We are supposed to be the hostesses and will show the boys around the grounds if they want us to, but I imagine that the little boys will want to tear around by themselves. The older boys will pay more attention to us, though. They will all be very polite and appreciative, for their head councillor is quite particular about their manners.”
It was almost three o’clock when the boats appeared from Boothbay Camp. The day had cleared, though occasional clouds obscured the afternoon sun. The Aeolus came gliding in, full of boys of all sizes, with their councillors. Many of them wore white duck in honor of the occasion. Others were in the usual camp uniform. Standing in or on the Aeolus, they hailed Merrymeeting, first with the Boothbay, then with the Merrymeeting yell, and were answered by such girls as happened to be about, for the place of reception was at the club house.
Cathalina was watching for Philip and Campbell, whom she intended to have a delightful time if she could manage it, and proud she was to introduce them to all the interesting girls. Campbell, in turn, introduced the other councillors and other boys, and the picnic was well started. The younger boys and girls had a hare and hounds chase, which was somewhat strenuous for the boys in white duck, but they came out of it in good humor, if a little warm and disheveled.
“They shall have their heart’s desire, the dears,” thought Cathalina, as she stood apart for a moment and looked at the chatting, laughing company. It was not hard to manage it, for Campbell never got very far from Hilary, and Phil was usually where he could quickly reach Lilian.
“Pardon me, Philip, I want Lilian to take you around a little and show you Marshmallow Point and the pine grove, and, Hilary, will you take Campbell? There is Sunset Rock, too, and the lane. The boys must see all the places we rave about. I’ll join you later.” Cathalina had seen to it that neither Hilary nor Lilian had planned to take part in any of the games that were arranged for, and had frankly told them why. “I want you to be free to entertain Campbell and Philip. The other girls and I will help with the rest.”
Neither Lilian nor Hilary, then, were surprised or embarrassed, and the four strolled first down to Marshmallow Point, properly called Chopp’s Point, where they viewed the remains of many a camp fire and sat on the rocks to talk of their schools, the camps, and many other interests both serious and amusing. But when they topped the hill again, Lilian and Philip turned toward the pine grove, while Hilary and Campbell walked on past the club house to the little road and Sunset Rock. No explanation seemed necessary.
“This is where we find the cranberry plants,” Hilary was saying, as she stooped to pick a bit of the vine with an unripe cranberry on it. “Our prettiest blueberries are near Sunset Rock.”
“Where is that?” asked Campbell.