“Why, don’t you know, when you are undecided about something, if you watch, you will find sign-posts pointing the right way to go.” Polly’s brown eyes sparkled with eagerness, as she explained one of her pet ideas. “We want a good vacation this year, and a different kind of a one, and this is the second sign-post that has said Wyoming.”
“What was the first?”
“Jean Murray, ranch girl, thoroughbred, Wyoming.” Polly counted off the different heads on her finger-tips. “She is one of the Freshman teachers at Calvert Hall, grandfather dear, and she’s coming to dinner to-morrow, and we’ve got a wonderful surprise for you, I think.”
“Sign-posts?”
“Maybe.” Polly looked over at the doctor, and suddenly began to laugh. “Oh, I do believe—I’m almost sure—that even the Doctor is a sign-post pointing the way to Wyoming.”
“I am thankful it was not Kamchatka, for I verily think you would have had a try for it, Polly.” The Admiral rose, one hand on Polly’s young shoulder, and they went in to dinner, Aunty Welcome bowing and smiling in the wide hall outside the door as though she were trying to live up to her name.
And through the dinner, Polly listened with deepest interest to the conversation between her grandfather and the doctor, all about the recent researches throughout the Yellowstone valley, and following the glacial drift, and about dinosauri and other prehistoric animals until Wyoming seemed a veritable land of hidden enchantment. If it could be managed, then and there Polly made up her mind, the vacation club should have its summer outing in that far-off land of wonders.
CHAPTER V
THE GUEST OF HONOR
On Saturday mornings, Polly had two important duties to perform, dusting the Admiral’s study and her own room. Then came an hour’s practice on the piano, and after that she was free to walk around the garden and consult Uncle Peter.