“Don’t snoop, Rosanna,” said Uncle Robert sharply.
“I didn’t, Uncle Robert,” said Rosanna in a hurt tone. “She was sitting close to me on the sofa, and I couldn’t help seeing. She liked it too, because she smiled so sweetly and showed all her dimples, even the one that almost never comes out.”
“What a little ray of sunshine you are, Rosanna!” said her uncle strangely.
“Thank you; a Girl Scout ought to be,” replied Rosanna.
“Well, you are, all right, sweetness,” said Uncle Robert. He sighed deeply almost as though the ray of sunshine had not come his way at all. He kissed Rosanna and then sat her down rather hard in a deep chair. “I don’t know when I have felt so cheered up. And now, if you would like to call the garage and order the little car for me, I will go around to see Doctor MacLaren and tell him the good news of our fortune. And on second thoughts, I don’t believe I will have to consult with Miss Hooker at all. I think perhaps you are right. I have bothered her enough.”
“She has been very polite and kind about it all, hasn’t she?” asked Rosanna.
“Most polite and kind,” Mr. Horton agreed. “But we don’t want to wear her kindness out, do we, Rosanna? I will go see Rick, and in a day or two my part of this affair will be finished. And I won’t have to bother anybody. I am thinking of a little trip out West, Rosanna. I wish you could go with me.”
“I wish I could!” said Rosanna, “but grandmother wouldn’t want me to leave school, and besides I couldn’t leave the Scouts just now. Where do you think of going, Uncle Robert?”
“Nowhere in particular, unless—” he thought a moment. “It might be fun to look up some place where they had never heard of the Girl Scouts.”
“Perfectly splendid!” said Rosanna. “That would be doing a good deed. You could tell the people about us, and start a patrol. I must tell Miss Hooker about this; she will think it is so nice of you. She appreciates kind acts, even if she doesn’t like men.”