It was barely half past nine when Betty, having finished breakfast and put
the last finishing touches to her new white hat, ran around to the garage
to get the car out.

Ten minutes later she had drawn up in front of Mollie's house, her ears
still ringing with the hundred and one instructions of her anxious mother,
and was tooting the horn of her little car furiously.

The summons had the desired effect. Mollie came running from the house,
straightening her hat with one hand and lugging a valise in the other
while the twins trailed at her skirts.

"For goodness' sake, let go of me, Paul. Dodo, if you touch that bag
again, I'll spank you. Mother," she wailed, looking back pleadingly over
her shoulder, "won't you please make these little pests go into the
house?"

Whereupon Mrs. Billette suddenly appeared at the door, smiled at Betty,
grabbed Paul with one hand, Dodo with the other, while the twins roared a
protest.

Released, Mollie dropped her bag, sped round to the garage, and in a
moment more was backing the big car round to the road.

The girls had decided to about live in their khaki tramping suits on this
trip, merely packing in a good dress or two to wear on dress-up occasions.
In this way they had to take less luggage and could have more space to
"spread out" as Mollie said.

"Put your grip in here, Betty," Mollie suggested, as she slung her own