But every one was glad to see every one else, even if the surprise party was a genuine one for the campers. Hand-shakings and family embraces took at least ten minutes before hosts and guests began to think of other things.

"Had you only sent word, we might have prepared dinner," began Mrs.

Vernon in apology.

"Oh, we took care of all that," laughed Eliza, who was in charge of the camp-fire, with John, and Joan's brothers, to help.

This attracted the Captain's eyes to her stove. There, on the stone-oven stood several large kettles, and others hung on the pole over the fire.

The sight was such a relief that Mrs. Vernon's knees weakened and she sat down on the table-rock to collect herself. The visitors all laughed at her expression, and the girl scouts brightened suddenly.

"Well, you certainly showed some sense!" exclaimed Joan.

Every one laughed again. And Betty said in excuse: "You see we ran low for dinners this week 'cause we used so much time in building our house.

Did you see it?"

A loud chorus of approval and admiration came from the relatives who felt a great pride in the achievements of their girls. But the mothers looked anxiously at the daughters when they heard Betty speak of scarcity in the larder. Still the girl scouts showed no symptoms of starvation. They looked fine and must have added a pound each to their weight.

"I rather thought such would be the case, with your camp so far from a store, so we brought a stock of food for this week," said Mrs. Bentley.

"Now that is great, mother, because we can take that much more time in building a stable for Hepsy," cried Ruth, with real grat.i.tude shining in her eyes.

"Hepsy! Have you got that old nag here?" laughed John.

"What did you bring her for?" wondered May.

"To do the ch.o.r.es in camp," retorted Julie, laughingly.

"What would we have done without her?" sighed Joan, as she remembered the hauling of the logs.

Then the girls explained how they constructed the hut and what part Hepsy played in the work. They enlarged on the picnics and drives they were going to have, with Hepsy to furnish the motive power.

The boys listened to the first part of the talk, but not being one of the party that expected to have the fine outings, they lost interest and ran off to see if dinner was ready.

John came racing back, crying aloud so all could hear: "'Liza says you're all to sit down on the gra.s.s and hold your plates while's she pa.s.ses the soup-kettle and serves you!"

"Where are the dishes?" asked the girls of Mrs. Vernon, as John spoke.

"They must have brought them. I see May and your father over there, carrying a wash-basket," whispered Mrs. Vernon.

So it was. And as each visitor was handed a soup-plate, the advice was given out at the same time: "You've got to use the same plate and spoon for every other course, so don't look for clean dishes hereafter."

The boys helped Eliza serve the soup, and when all were engaged in eating, one of the visitors remarked: "We saw quant.i.ties of wild strawberries down by the mountain-road as we walked by."

"Whereabouts? We'll pick them to-morrow for dinner," said Joan, eagerly.

The locality was carefully described, and the girls noted it for future investigation. There was so much laughing and talking after this that many of the young people forgot what they had for dinner. However, Eliza had provided enough for all, and the scouts were relieved of any responsibility thereby.

"We're not going to spend the afternoon," May said to the scouts after dinner, "we just thought to surprise you and have dinner, then start for home again."

Mrs. Allison added, as May finished speaking, "Yes, and we mothers felt sure you would be homesick after one week of camping. But I think we were the only ones feeling lonely. You seem to have had plenty to do to keep you from wanting to come back."

"Don't worry about our feeling forlorn or homesick, mother. If we can break away from here when September comes, we'll be satisfied," replied Joan.

Then Mr. Lee stood up on a stump and shouted: "Folks, it's about time to start back to the conventional ways of living. But before we go we ought to thank our hostesses for this good time. I only wish I was a girl scout with a summer in camp before me!"

Every one clapped and, at a signal, gave three cheers for the Captain and her scouts. Then dishes were collected in the big basket, kettles stacked up in the hamper, and the visitors started down the road.

Eliza drew Mrs. Vernon aside and whispered: "You'll find a lot of stuff I brought for cookin' this week. We got a peck of onions from a farmer, so I measured out half for youse. I found I could spare a large measure of pertaters, too, and you'll find them with th' onions.

"I made a cake fer Sunday's supper fer you-all, and the jar of cookies I promised every week. Seein' as how there ain't no way fer a butcher to reach you, I packed up the roast lamb left from yesterday, and a slice of steak ready to be fried."

"Oh, Eliza! what a wonderful fairy you are! Now we will have enough meat and bones to last a week. I won't waste a morsel!" Mrs. Vernon promised.

The scouts had accompanied their visitors down the road, so Mrs. Vernon now walked with Eliza, a short distance behind the crowd. As they went, the maid laughingly explained:

"That was why I insisted on servin' the dinner. Mis' Bentley and Mis'

Allison wanted to help, but I knew they wouldn't be careful of left-overs like I would. And glad I am I did!

"Why do you know, Mis' Vernon, there's enough salad dressin' left in a bowl in the store-room hut to last a week. An' soup, too, fer supper to-night fer all of you. Sandwitches--my! you kin eat sandwitches for three days' runnin'. Every speck of good cake what wasn't teched, I put carefully in the tin cracker-box, and many a snack the girls kin have between meals by that cake."

"Eliza, I will tell the girls all you just told me, and I know they will be delighted. _I_ will thank you now, for them, as they will be busy saying good-by to every one after we join them."

"That's all right, Mis' Vernon. Don't bother about thanks, 'cause it is my bis'ness to look after them girls' meals, anyway."

But Mrs. Vernon thought how few maids of the present day thought as Eliza did. Would it not be to their own interests to consider their "business" a little more and thus win the grat.i.tude and appreciation of the family?

The visitors had come out in large jitneys hired for the afternoon, and when every one was crowded in and the two heavy autos were about to start, Mrs. Vernon exclaimed:

"The next time you visit us, it will be at our invitation and expense.

We will cook the dinner for the next picnic!"

And Julie shouted in addition to the invitation: "Yes, but we'll only invite you in installments--not such a crowd at one time."

CHAPTER NINE

THE CABINET MAKERS

When the last cloud of dust told the scout girls that their friends had disappeared down the road, they turned to the Captain. Julie evidently had an idea she wished to express.

"Now that we have time, let's find that strawberry field and gather some for supper. It is allowable on Sunday, isn't it?"

"If it's for use and not for pleasure, it is right," said the Captain.

"Well, one can't exactly say it is for use, as one can do without berries; but they will taste mighty good with 'Liza's cake, you know,"