“But you must keep secrets—make secrets if you haven’t any to keep,” advised Betta, who had taken a fancy to Nora. In fact all the girls showed unusual interest in the little visitor.
“Oh, I know how to do that,” Nora replied truthfully.
Then, with many invitations and a number of suggestions as to spending some days and even a few evenings, Nora finally managed to race off toward the Nest, after Betta walked with her out of the camp grounds and watched while she hurried down the road. It was a very short distance to Wildwoods, and before Betta turned back to Camp Chickadee she had seen faithful Cap run out to meet Nora.
“Now, are you satisfied, Alma?” asked Wyn. “You would insist the visitor was a boy.”
“It may be her brother,” replied the brown-haired one, “but honestly, girls, and no joking, he had curls just like hers,” said Alma.
“But isn’t she sweet?” asked Wyn.
“Princes aside, I like her most as well as Alma’s vision,” declared Thistle. “And did you notice how matter-of-fact she donned Bluebird’s outfit? What are we going to say to her if she happens back tonight?”
“Gone to the tailor’s to be pressed,” suggested Pell, glibly. “There come the others. Now for a lecture.”
But instead, Miss Beckwith, the leader, came up smiling. “We heard all about it, girls,” she began. “Met that precious James Jimmie Jimsby of yours, and he said it was in no way your fault.”
“Bless the boy!” murmured Pell. “We shall certainly have to adopt the list of Jays. First we capsize his boat and then he pleads for us. Now isn’t that gallant?”