“Ten or twelve miles.”
“Don’t let that trouble you, boys. I’ll be on hand with the car and I’ll pick up the stragglers,” interjected Jane, joining the group. She had been at work cleaning her car. Her face was smudged and her hands blackened. “If any of you get tired out I’ll promise to take care of you.”
“Thank you,” answered the captain, flushing. His companions laughed at him.
“But, Captain,” protested Harriet, “we haven’t decided on anything. Is this to be a race for one day, or for all the way home? You go right through Meadow-Brook, do you not?”
“Yes. Just as you say. I don’t think you can stand it to race all the way home.”
“Perhaps not,” answered Harriet dryly.
“No. The poor, delicate things,” mourned Jane. “Just think how you are going to walk them to death. You boys should be ashamed of yourselves.”
“I don’t care if the girls don’t,” laughed George. “Yes. We’ll walk you all the way in to Meadow-Brook. The party that gets in first must give the other side something. What’ll it be?” asked George.
“I’ll take marthhmallowth for mine,” piped Tommy.
“That’s it. A box of candy for each of you if you win. What do you say, fellows?” questioned George, appealing to his companions.