she went on quickly to explain. "I met Mrs. Irving in the street the other
day--you know she has been away ever since that last time she was with us
on Pine Island--and I asked her then if she would chaperon us this
summer."

"But you didn't even know then that we were going to Wild Rose Lodge,
Betty," Mollie interrupted.

"I knew we were sure to go somewhere. We always--" Betty was arguing when
Grace cut in impatiently.

"Never mind about that," she said. "Did Mrs. Irving say she would go?"

"She said she was very sure she could manage it," Betty answered. "She
seemed awfully surprised and said it would be great fun to be with us
girls again."

"It will be great fun for all of us," said Amy happily. "I'll never forget
the wonderful time we had on Pine Island with Mrs. Irving and the boys."

"Yes--and the boys," Betty repeated a little wistfully. She was thinking
of Allen Washburn and the wonderful time they had had that never-to-be-
forgotten summer--before the war had come to separate them and make their
hearts ache. Oh, it would be unbelievably happy to have the boys back
again--Will, Roy, Frank and--her Allen. The old crowd together once more.
She looked around at the girls, who had also fallen into a thoughtful
mood, and suddenly she smiled, the old bright, happy smile that was
peculiarly Betty's own.

"Oh, cheer up, everybody," she cried gayly. "How do we know but what the