"But I don't expect ever to see that," sighed Nan; for she really
had begun to think so much about Rhoda's home, and had listened so
closely to the tales the Western girl related, that Nan felt
herself drawn strongly toward an outdoor experience such as Rhoda
enjoyed at home. It would be even more free and primitive, Nan
thought, than her sojourn at Pine Camp.

"You are terribly pessimistic," laughed the Western girl in
rejoinder to Nan's last observation. "How do you know you'll never
see Rose Ranch?"

Even this remark did not make Nan suspect what was coming. Nor did
Bess Harley or the Masons have any warning of the plan Rhoda
Hammond had so carefully thought out. But the surprise "broke" one
afternoon at mail time.

Both Nan and Bess received letters from home, and they ran at once
to Room Seven, Corridor Four, to read them. Scarcely had they
broken the seals of the two fat missives when the door was flung
open and Grace Mason fairly catapulted herself into the room in
such a state of excitement that she startled the Tillbury chums.

"What is the matter, Grace?" gasped Bess, as the smaller girl threw
herself into Nan's arms.

"Why! she's only happy," said Nan, holding her off and viewing her
flushed and animated countenance. "Do get your breath, Gracie."

"And--when I do--I'll take yours!" gasped Grace. She held up a
letter. "From mother. She--she says we can go--Walter and I--both