She was the first in the dining-room that morning, but her mother soon came in, scattering advice as she came and all through the meal Billie tried hard to listen dutifully to all the "must nots" and "don't dos." But all the time her eyes were on the clock and her mind was saying over and over again:
"In just half an hour we'll be on the train. In just half an hour we'll be on the train."
Then Chet came in and her father, and, finding that it was almost train time, postponed their breakfast to see her off. A few minutes later they started off to pick up the girls on the way to the station.
They found them waiting impatiently, and wildly eager to be off. About a block from the station they heard the whistle of the train, and the girls would run for it, though they really had plenty of time.
At last they were in the train with the boys and their parents waving to them. Then suddenly they realized that they were moving. They were actually on their way!
"Give my regards to the ghosts!" cried Chet as the train moved off, "and don't scare them all off before I get there!"
CHAPTER XIII
CHERRY CORNERS
As the train drew out of the station Billie leaned back with a sigh of pure happiness.
"You know," she said, looking at the girls with sparkling eyes, "this is the very first time that I have ever been away from North Bend without the folks."