“Will you kindly direct me to it?”
“With pleasure, Miss Burrell. The camp is pitched just within the edge of those trees at the far side of the field yonder,” pointing to a grove. “You are the only contestants who, so far as I am aware, are camping out. Baker tells me that you prefer it. I consider it an excellent idea, provided the weather is good.”
“Oh, we do not mind bad weather. We are quite well used to all kinds,” answered Harriet, her face lighting up in a happy smile. “Are any of the other players here?”
“None of those from out of town so far as I know. Some of them may be staying with friends. None has reported to me. I should like to meet your companions if you have no objection.”
“They will be glad to know you,” answered Harriet, turning back toward the car, with Mr. Herrington walking beside her. The manager was presented to Miss Elting and each of the Meadow-Brook Girls in turn. He said he knew Grace Thompson’s father quite well and that he also knew Mr. McCarthy by reputation.
“I thought I was the only member of our family who had a reputation,” blurted out Jane. “Between myself and the motor car pretty nearly every one in our part of the State has met disaster. Is that our camp over yonder?”
“Yes,” answered Herrington, with an amused smile.
“May I drive the car over?”
“You may. But please go around the outside edge of the field so as not to cut up the turf near the courts. We have spent some weeks on these grounds, and are naturally very careful of them.”
“It is a very beautiful field,” remarked the guardian admiringly. “I see there are no nets up. When will you stretch them?”