“I am delighted and relieved,” he answered, rubbing his hands together with pleasure over their pleasure. “Better introduce Cousin Helen to her—er bedroom now, and wash up before supper,” he added, winking and grinning behind that little lady’s back.
Anybody would approve of the big room of the camp. It was indeed a splendid place, but how was Miss Campbell going to take to the dormitory? A flight of rustic steps at one end led to a gallery opening on this doubtful territory.
“Oh, how delightful,” cried Billie, rushing through the door with a great show of enthusiasm. “I have always wanted to sleep in the open and never had a chance except that one night on the plains. Remember, Cousin Helen? And how you did enjoy it, too!”
“One night, yes, my dear, but this is for some sixty nights or more,” answered Miss Campbell, surveying a row of cots placed at intervals along the porch. “I never slept in the room with anybody in my life before.”
“But this is not sleeping in a room. This is sleeping in the world, under the great dome of heaven,” exclaimed Billie, laughing uneasily.
“If you want privacy, you can draw a veil,” remarked Elinor, pointing to denim curtains on poles between some of the beds.
“And be alone in the world, under the great dome of heaven? Never!” cried Miss Campbell. “But do we dress out here in sight of the entire range of mountains? I should feel that each mountain had an eye turned on me.”
“Really, cousin, you remind me of the old lady from Skye,” ejaculated Billie:
“‘There was an old lady from Skye
Who was so exceedingly shy,
When she undressed at night,
She put out the light,
For fear of the all-seeing eye.’”
Miss Campbell so far forgot her objections as to burst out laughing, and she was still further placated by finding at one end of the porch a good-sized locker room, and adjoining that a bathroom.