The noon recess again brought the four friends together, and Betty showed a tentative program she had surreptitiously scribbled during a study period.
It contained the names of towns, with the available relatives of the girls set down opposite each one, and a rough calculation of the time required to walk from one place to the other.
"It seems as if we ought to start at once," exclaimed Mollie. "Aren't you just dying to go, Amy?"
"I am—yes." There was hesitation in the tones.
"Why, what is the matter?" asked Grace, quickly. "Are you ill, Amy?" for the girl looked pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes.
"No, I'm all right. But papa and mamma don't seem to want me to go—at least they say they rather I would not just at present."
"The idea!"
"After we have it almost all arranged!"
"Why not?"
These comments and the question were fairly shot at Amy.