"I am not!" protested Shirley indignantly as usual.
"Eh?" Winnie jerked her eyes open with a start. "For mercy's sake, do we have to stay out here all night?" she demanded crossly. "I can stand a picnic supper, if I have to, but it's no picnic for me to have to sleep out on damp grass."
Doctor Hugh laughingly declared that after that gentle hint there was nothing to do but go in. He helped the boys cover the fire and stamp out every vestige of an ember and then led the way to the house, carrying Shirley and leading Sarah who pretended to be very wide-awake but whose feet lagged unaccountably.
"I declare, I can't get used to having no dinner dishes to wash," said Winnie when they had reached the porch. "I'm going in now and see if I left the kitchen in good order."
She disappeared and Mrs. Willis took Shirley and Sarah up to bed, while Doctor Hugh snapped on the reading light.
"I want to look over the paper," he said comfortably. "Don't go, Warren—it's early yet, Rich."
Rosemary found her favorite low rocker and the boys chose the swing.
"We'll miss this," said Warren slowly.
"Yes, we haven't any swing at Ag State," declared Richard with a grin.
"You know what I mean, well enough," retorted Warren. "Confabs, music—being inside a home."