“This is the first hint we’ve had of it,” complained Joan.
“Why no! Verny suggested the plan herself—didn’t you, Verny?”
But Mrs. Vernon shook her head doubtfully, while Julie shouted with delight at their mystification. Then, eager to share her fun, she cried laughingly: “Hepsy, the dear old girl!”
Of course when one is happy and gay it takes but little to cause loud and long merriment, and so it was in this instance. They laughed uproariously at the joke, and decided then and there to tease the other girls at school who were so anxious to join a Patrol, but would not weed the dandelions to earn money for a camp.
As weeding had been the best test of endurance and patience Mrs. Vernon could think of at the time, she had felt rather relieved to find that only four responded to the initiation invitation. In doing things according to the Handbook for Captains, she felt she would find four girls sufficient material to practice upon for the first season.
When the luncheon was unpacked and spread out, Mrs. Vernon smiled continuously at the happy chatter of the four girls, and the thousand-and-one plans they made for the camp that summer. Then all sat down to enjoy the feast, for nothing had ever tasted so good to them before, and then—did Verny say it was time to start for home?
“Oh, no! It can’t be late, Verny!” exclaimed Ruth.
“Why, we’ve only been here half a minute, Verny,” added Joan.
The Captain glanced at her wrist watch. “We have been here more than two hours, girls, and it is a two hour drive back, you know.”
“Dear, dear! the only comfort I have in leaving now is the hope of being here for all summer in another week!” cried Betty.