And Bettina was not alone. She was deeply engaged in conversation, and without a hat, so, although the porter did hesitate beside her, he did not interrupt, deciding that she was not the young woman he sought.
But here Mrs. Burton and two of the girls found her a few moments later.
As soon as the man returned and declaring that Bettina had vanished, Polly had become instantly terrified. For a woman who was to be chaperon to half a dozen or more girls, she had far too much imagination. At once she conceived the idea that Bettina had fallen off the train—and—what could she say to the child’s mother and father? It was too dreadful!
Indeed, Mrs. Burton would have had the train stopped immediately, except that Peggy and Ellen Deal, who at once rose to the occasion, insisted that Bettina be reconnoitered for again.
But when Bettina was finally traced and discovered in agreeable conversation with a strange young man, her chaperon was angry. Indeed, the natural Polly wished to assert herself and give the girl just such a scolding as she would have bestowed upon her mother in their younger days. Only, of course, the present, more elderly Polly was convinced that Betty would never have been so inconsiderate as her daughter.
However, remembering her own dignity as a newly-chosen Camp Fire guardian, after a few moments of reproach, she did manage to control her temper.
And Bettina, although making no defense, was sorry. She had not been intentionally selfish, only she did not see but one side of a situation until usually it was too late. She lived—as so many other people do—in her own visions and her own desires. Yet, at present, she deeply wished her mother’s old friend to care for her and exaggerated the failure she was making with her. Without appreciating it, Polly walked in a kind of halo of achievement and charm before Bettina’s eyes. Therefore, it was unfortunate Bettina did not realize that everything and everybody in the world Mrs. Polly Burton took more seriously than she did her own fame, and that the dearest desire of her heart at the present time was that her new Camp Fire girls should regard her as their friend.
CHAPTER VII
Sunset Pass
Two days later, however, a few hours after breakfast, Mrs. Polly Burton was also interested in Bettina’s new acquaintance, and was making the young man useful.
The afternoon of their meeting Bettina had endeavored to introduce him, but had found this difficult because she did not know his name.