“No, no,” Phoebe answered, and finally permitted herself to be led to the women’s quarter of the camp, where for the first time in her life she bathed in a porcelain bath tub, with scented soap and toilet water and sweet smelling talcum powder and violet ammonia and all kinds of women’s luxuries at her service on a hand shelf by the tub.
When Billie proudly led Phoebe downstairs that evening, the others, already gathered around the supper table, were filled with amazement. Instead of the ragged, disheveled mountain girl, they saw a beautiful young woman in a white duck skirt and a muslin blouse. Her throat rose like a slender column from the lace yoke of the blouse and her soft hair was rolled into a loose knot on her neck.
“I know now she is a princess,” said Mary.
Ben and Percy, returned from their search, had brought no news.
CHAPTER XV.
A WARNING.
The next day Billie had much difficulty in persuading Phoebe to put on the beautiful pink linen.
“It is not right,” Phoebe kept saying, although her eyes shone with a new luster when she gazed at the pretty frock. “I am very grateful for what you have done but you must not do too much. I am sure my father would not approve of my accepting so many favors.”