“That is because you were picturing the place on a much grander scale after you got home than it actually is. It is your thought that has to dwindle again to take in the proportion of the hut as it is,” replied the Captain, amused at Betty’s experience.
“I thought the very same thing, but I hated to say anything that sounded like criticism,” admitted Joan.
“Tell the truth, girls, I think that hut is tiny, but it looked big enough the other day,” laughed Julie.
“Then we must build ours larger than this,” said Mrs. Vernon, turning to look over the stock of things needing shelter.
“It looks like an awful heap of stuff, doesn’t it?” asked Ruth.
“Yes, but we needed everything, so we had to bring them.”
“What shall we do first, Verny?” asked Betty.
“Better pitch the tent first of all, and arrange the cots, then we can work as long as we like, without worrying about having to make our beds.”
The girls quickly unrolled the large canvas tent they had purchased, but when it came to erecting it, they found it a much more difficult task than they had anticipated. Jim and the gardener had helped pitch it the first time, but now they were absent.
However, after many failures, the tent was up, albeit it looked wobbly and one-sided. The cots were next opened and placed under the canvas, and the lockers were dragged to their right places.