“Then you do accept,” exclaimed Billie joyfully.
“With the greatest pleasure,” answered Richard, “if you think old Dobbin can climb the hill.”
“Of course he can,” replied Billie.
“But, Richard, do you think we dare?” asked Maggie in a low voice.
Richard’s mouth turned up at the corners and his eyes gave a humorous blink.
“We dare anything,” he said. “Pray excuse this little aside, Miss Billie. It’s only that we are obliged to consider certain complications that arise to vex us at times. I think we can easily arrange to go to Camp Sunrise.”
Billie was more certain than ever that money was the complication. But surely that was an inexpensive way of spending one’s vacation, provided one owned the van and the horse.
“How much longer does your vacation last, Mr. Hook?” she asked.
“It depends. My boss is a very notionate old party. He might let me go wandering on like this for several weeks longer or he might suddenly decide to send for me, and I should have to go hiking back in the midst of my holiday.”
Maggie laughed, and Billie wondered what kind of work this unusual young man did that sent out sudden calls in the very middle of hard-earned vacations.