He looked at them so anxiously that Betty felt like hugging him-- and
nearly did it.

"Enough! Well, I guess it is enough," she said heartily, as the other
girls seated themselves on the bench either side of the tempting tray
and began enthusiastically to help themselves. "It would be plenty for
an army. We can't thank you enough."

"Indeed we can't," added Mollie.

"It's awfully good of you," said Grace, as she took a bite of her ham
sandwich.

"Awfully good," added Amy, like an echo.

The little man waved aside their thanks and drew up the one chair in
the room, talking all the time in his quick, jerky fashion.

"It was no trouble, I am sure,-- no trouble whatever," he said, adding
as though he wished to change the subject: "You didn't tell me your
name----" he hesitated, looking at Betty, who of course did tell him
her name on the spot. This proved a signal for mutual introductions,
and the girls learned that their new friend was a college professor,
Arnold Dempsey by name. They also learned that he had taken up
woodcraft in the hope of recovering his health.

And while they contentedly munched sandwiches and sipped steaming
coffee the girls learned a good deal more about Arnold Dempsey, and
the more they learned of him the more they felt drawn to him.