"Hoh! Rachel wants to attend Meetin' to-night, and she hates being late!" laughed Natalie teasingly.

"Mr. Marvin will get her home all right, long before we are half-way there," said Mrs. James soothingly.

"Seein's this comin' Sunday'll be my las' at chu'ch fer a hull summer, yuh can't wonder I wants to be on time at choir practice t'-night,"

remarked Rachel apologetically to Mr. Marvin.

"Of course not! I'll agree to have you back in the city in a jiffy! And now that I think of it, Rachel,-why should you bother to prepare dinner for us to-day? Let me take the girls out somewhere for one night, and you will have time to get to church early in order to say good-by to all your friends!"

As that was all Rachel wished,-to show the importance of herself and her family who owned such a fine country-place, and brag about it to her bosom friends,-she smiled serenely and sat down in the roadster driven by the lawyer.

The others stood and smiled, too, as they watched Mr. Marvin drive away, and then turned to get into Miss Mason's car to start back to the city.

CHAPTER IV-GIRL SCOUT FARMERETTES

Mrs. James sent word to the storekeeper at the Corners, directing him to hire help and send them to Green Hill Farm to clean up the house thoroughly. Also to see that a man mowed the lawns and cleaned up the barns and yards.

Then came the work of selecting the things Natalie wished to keep, and packing them ready to ship to Green Hill. The other furnishings in the apartment would not be sold until after the girl was out. Mr. Marvin said there was no need to cause her any unnecessary heartache.

The second week in June, Mr. Marvin sent word to Mrs. James that the house was ready for occupancy whenever she wished to move out there. Not only was the old furniture placed in the respective rooms, but the pieces that had been shipped from the apartment in New York were also arranged for the time being. The only things to be moved were the trunks and the cases containing the dishes and bric-a-brac which Natalie would keep.

Mrs. James read the letter to Natalie at the breakfast table and said: "The sooner we can get away from here, dear, the better for all. Mr.

Marvin can then save a whole month's rent for you, as the owner agreed to cancel the lease when Mr. Marvin explained the circ.u.mstances. If we remain to the end of this month, it will take an extra week to dispose of what remains here, and that will necessitate another month's rent if it goes over the first of July."

"Oh, I'll be only too glad to get away from the home where every room and object speaks of dear Daddy!" cried Natalie. "Green Hill is so lovely at this time of the year that I feel as if I could look forward there to meeting Daddy and mother again without feeling any grief at the parting now."

"Then let us say we will start in a day or two!" exclaimed Mrs. James eagerly.

"But what about school, Jimmy? Exams will not come off until the third week, and I don't want to miss any."

"Natalie, maybe we can arrange some way with Miss Mason by which you can take yours without being in school," said Mrs. James.

"I'll see her to-morrow, Jimmy, and if she says I may do it that way, I'll go with you at once."

"If she can't make such an exception in your case, Natalie, we may be able to arrange so you can commute to the city for the few last weeks of school."

The next noon Natalie hurried home with the good news that the Princ.i.p.al had been interviewed and had granted Natalie permission to take her examinations all at one time during the next few days of school, as her average for the year had been so splendid. The fact that she maintained a high standard all year through in her cla.s.ses showed that she would not fail now in her yearly examinations.

"Oh, but this is good news, dear!" exclaimed Mrs. James joyously.

"Yes, isn't it? If it wasn't for Miss Mason taking the time and interest in me that she does, the Princ.i.p.al would never have listened to my request. It seems rather wonderful to have a teacher who is a real friend, too!"

"We're grateful, no matter through what channel the good came; but I, too, think Miss Mason a good friend to have," remarked Mrs. James.

"She said something to me, as I left this noon, about your telling me of her Scout camp. She laughed and said I would be surprised and-perhaps-annoyed. If it was the latter feeling, I was to consider she owed me a debt that she would try to pay as soon as possible. It sounded so amusing, coming from her to me, who owes her all obligations for what she has done for me, that I am keen to hear what you have to explain."

Mrs. James smiled. "I am sure you will be pleased, Natalie. Miss Mason rented a section of the woodland that runs along the river bank at Green Hill for a camp for her Girl Scout Patrol she told us of. They all expect to go there on the first of July."

"Oh, goody! Isn't that just scrumptious!" cried Natalie delightedly.

"I thought you would like it, but Miss Mason was not so sure that you would welcome her Scouts. The girls are all good girls, but they have not had the money or social advantages that you and your friends have. I told Miss Mason that the sooner all such fol-de-rol was dispelled in a girl's mind the better. And these eight sensible young girls will help dispel the nonsense."

"That's right, Jimmy! Since I find myself thrown on the mercy of the world, I begin to see how unfounded is one's faith in money or position.

One day it is yours and the next it is gone!"

"Rather precocious views for so young a maid, Natalie," said Mrs. James, smiling indulgently at her protegee.

Natalie sighed. "Is it not true?"

"True, of course, but you have not proven it to be so yet. You speak from hearsay and from book knowledge. You have not had to make the sorry experience your own yet."

"Why, Jimmy! Don't you call my losses the test?" said Natalie, offended that Mrs. James should consider her limited condition anything less than a calamity.

The lady laughed. "Child, you have a lovely home and land free and clear of debt. It is worth at _least_ ten thousand dollars right now. With judicious handling it will be worth four times that sum in a few years.

You have Rachel and me to live with you and love and cherish you-as well as protect you. You have Mr. Marvin to take all charge of your business interests, and last, but not least-you have four loyal young friends who stick to you whether you have money or not. This is far from being thrown on the cold mercy of the world!"

Natalie thought deeply over this but she said nothing.

"Well, let's get busy packing, Jimmy! I want to get away this week, if we can."

"Are you not going back for the afternoon session of school?" asked Mrs.

James, surprised.

"Didn't I tell you I was free now? I do not have to return except for exams. The cla.s.ses are only reviewing the last term's work now, so I do not have to report for that."

"Oh, how nice! Then we will get to work at once."

By afternoon of Wednesday, all baggage was out of the apartment, and the three occupants were prepared to leave early in the morning. Mr. Marvin had been notified and he said the key for Green Hill house was at the general store. Mrs. Tompkins would give it to them. Mr. Tompkins had followed his wife's advice and stocked up the kitchen and pantry with whatever groceries Rachel would need to begin with.

"Isn't that thoughtful of the Tompkins, Natalie?" said Mrs. James gratefully.

"Yes, I feel that we will be good friends-the Tompkins and us."

Natalie had informed her schoolmates that she was to go on the nine o'clock local in the morning, and so wished them all good-by that night.

"It isn't really 'good-by,' Nat, because we will all see you again so soon," giggled Norma.

Belle sent Norma a warning glance and explained hastily: "Yes, it is only a few weeks before we will be up on the farm with you."

"Try to fix it, girls, so you can all join me on the farm as soon as school closes," said Natalie.

"That will be fine!" declared a chorus of voices.

So repeated good-bys were said and Natalie wondered why the girls thought it all so funny! The next morning as Mrs. James and Natalie stood in line at Grand Central Station to buy their tickets, four laughing girls pounced upon Natalie, and as many girlish voices said: "Didn't you suspect? How could you believe we would let you go away without sending you off in a royal manner?"