In the meantime the girls were gazing at each other wonderingly.
“What does it mean?” questioned the guardian.
“I do not know,” replied Harriet. “You heard Mr. Disbrow admit that the man had made no mistake in coming here. But what need have we for a steam roller unless it be to run over us, which perhaps might be a good thing after all,” she added with a laugh.
“Dress yourselves, girls,” ordered Miss Elting. “We have overslept as it is. Perhaps it is just as well that the steam roller woke us up.”
“I think I prefer another kind of alarm clock,” chuckled Harriet. “This one is too violent and nerve-racking.”
Mr. Disbrow was out a second time before the girls had made ready for their first appearance. He walked over and held a brief conversation with the driver of the roller, after which he sat down by his own tent to await the coming of the girls, who, he felt sure, would soon be out.
They were. They shouted a cheery good morning to their guest, who thereupon hobbled over to them, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“To whom are we indebted for the steam roller?” asked the guardian lightly.
“I owe you an apology, ladies. When I sent word to the man to come here, I did not for a moment imagine he would find it advisable to drive his hideous vehicle into camp before breakfast. I have expressed as much to him, though in somewhat less temperate language,” added Disbrow with a faint smile.
“The apology is accepted, sir,” answered Harriet gravely. “But we are still in the dark as to the reason for this—this visitation?”