CHAPTER VIII

A DAY WITH AN EXCITING FINISH


The Camp Girls stood in groups waiting for introductions to the
Meadow-Brook Girls which they knew were to come. Mrs. Livingston performed
these introductions. As she did so, she explained the reason for the
disheveled appearance of the Meadow-Brook Girls, calling attention to the
pluck of Harriet Burrell in trying to stop the mad dash of the frightened
horse, for which, Mrs. Livingston said, an honor mark already had been
placed opposite her name. It was the true Camp Girl spirit, said the Chief
Guardian and they were proud to welcome her to their ranks.

The Camp Girls had been comparatively cordial to the newcomers since their
arrival. Now that they had heard of Harriet's pluck they were especially
so. They pressed forward with greetings so warm and friendly that the
Meadow-Brook Girls knew them to be sincere, and this made the four young
women feel at home on the instant. Harriet's face was still flushed from
Mrs. Livingston's praise and her eyelids were drooping modestly. Tommy,
however, was in her element. She talked incessantly, and even had to be
reminded that Mrs. Livingston was about to say grace. So absorbed did she
become in her own chatter that she did not observe that the whole table
was awaiting the conclusion of her talk for the more solemn duty of asking
grace.