But this much of the letter was all Nan would let the other girls
hear. She was quite as happy as either Grace or Bess. And all three
of them tripped away at once to find Rhoda and try to tell her just
how delighted they were over this plan.

"It never seemed as though _I_ should see Rose Ranch," Nan sighed
ecstatically when they had talked it all over. "It is too good to be
true."

As the term lengthened the girls were pushed harder and harder by
the instructors, and Bess and others like her complained a good
deal.

"The only thing that keeps me going is a mirage of Rose Ranch ahead
of me," declared Nan's chum, shaking her head over the text books
piled upon their study table. "Oh, dear me, Nan! if anything should
happen to make it impossible for us to go with Rhoda, I certainly
should fall--down--and--die!"

"Oh, nothing will happen as bad as that," laughed Nan.

"Well, nothing much ever does happen to us," agreed Bess. "But
suppose something should happen to Rhoda?"

"Shall we set a bodyguard about her?" asked Nan, her eyes
twinkling. "Do you think of any particular danger she may be in? I
fancy she is quite capable of taking care of herself."

"Now, Nan!" cried Bess, "don't poke fun. It would be awful if