Her friend answered gravely, “Of course her father and I will both understand. But Bettina knows nothing of the actual world. She has lived in her ambitions and dreams. Hard as it is for us, she must take her own risks and learn her own lessons.”
“If only you would come with me, Betty—you or Mollie. I may not be equal to the task alone,” Polly suddenly announced, having felt another qualm at the task ahead of her. Then she laughed.
“I have just had the funniest letter from Sylvia Wharton. You see, I wrote and asked Sylvia to take a year from her hospital work and come west to look after me. Doctor Sylvia flatly declines and suggests that she has more important things to do. Still, she has done a Sylviaesque thing! She proposes, or rather orders me, to take with me a young woman who started her hospital training and has broken down. She has recovered, but Sylvia thinks the change will help her. Also, she says the young woman is particularly well adapted for looking after all of us.
“She writes that I won’t need a maid and am to leave poor Marie in New York. She is right, I expect, about Marie, but I won’t do that. However, I don’t think it will be a bad idea, if the young woman Sylvia wishes me to take is fairly agreeable. She can teach my Camp Fire girls first-aid requirements and then, if any one is ill, help in an emergency.”
Mrs. Betty Graham nodded her handsome head.
“Sylvia is always sensible and has been from her youth up, in contrast to you, dear. However, don’t think that you and your girls are to be left in peace in your desert camp, Polly. I cannot go along with you at present, but I wouldn’t miss the experience of being with you for a time for a year of every-day life. So I’ll turn up some time when you least expect me—and I shall bring my Tony. You haven’t invited my son to your camp, Polly; are you taking Dan and Billy?”
For the second time Mrs. Burton’s expression changed to one of anxiety. “I wish I knew whether to ask your advice about something, Betty.”
But, before she had finished, her horse stumbled in a hole ahead and, becoming frightened, started to run.
First Polly felt herself being thrown violently forward, then tilted to one side, then backward and forward again. However, she had no idea of being frightened and, although her saddle girth was broken, she still held on. Really, the first thought flashing through her consciousness was the recollection of her sister Mollie’s parting words:
“Do please remember, Polly, that you are not young as you used to be. I don’t approve of this horseback riding for women of yours and Betty’s age. And I always feel more nervous about your getting into trouble than I do my own children.”