"What are we going to do this morning—and this afternoon, too?" asked Zan.
"I believe we will need some vegetables from the garden, and I thought we might learn how to bake cake for dessert."
"Goody! That will be fun! Shall we divide up?" said Hilda.
"No, a short walk to the garden will be good for all; then we can all take a hand in baking the cake."
"I wonder why Nita doesn't want to take part in our fun," ventured Jane, who was being disillusioned very rapidly regarding her admiration for the graceful pretty miss.
"She has never had an opportunity to act as freely and in the open as you have, perhaps. Her home life has cooped her with its conventionalities until she feels lost in this rural life. We must be patient with her and try, by example, to show how undesirable are the frothy perishable things of social butterflies," said Miss Miller.
Nita returned before the Band was quite ready to leave camp for the garden. Her efforts to be agreeable made the girls believe that she was sorry for her ill-humor and would be pleasant thereafter. The Guide saw beneath the veneer of smiles and wondered if the letter dated from the adjoining post-office had anything to do with Nita's present good-nature.
The vegetables selected, Miss Miller said, "Our cake will have to be baked in the oven at the house. I think there will be all the ingredients necessary in the pantry. Zan can show us where the tins are kept, for I thought a jelly cake would be the best to make to-day."
"Oh, yes. I love layer cake!" cried Elena.
The rest signified their anticipation of the cake in various ways, and by the time the house was reached every one was sure the cake would be delicious.