“And did they come for that train?”

“No, they didn’t, and so, of course, they must have been sent on the next one; but even so, they ought to be here now, because, you know, we went on through and came back.”

“But how did you get your checks if your trunks weren’t put on the train?”

“Oh, the baggageman knows us,” explained Bob, “and he gave us our checks and kept the duplicates to put on our trunks when they came down to the station.  He often does that.”

“Yes,” said Bumble, “we’ve never had our trunks ready yet when the man came for them.”

“Nan’s was ready,” put in Bob, who was a great stickler for justice, “but, of course, hers couldn’t go till ours did.  Oh, I guess they’ll turn up all right.”

They did turn up all right twenty-four hours later, but the exchange of suit-cases was not so easily effected.

However, after more or less correspondence between Nan and the nurse who owned the uniform, the transfer was finally made, and Nan recovered her pretty blue gown, which certainly bore no evidence of having been worn in a sickroom.

“But I bet she wore it, all the same,” said Bob.  “She probably neglected her patient and went to a party that night just because she had the frock.”

CHAPTER XXI

A GOOD SUGGESTION

August at Boxley Hall proved to be a month of fun and frolic.  The Barlow cousins were much easier to entertain than the St. Clairs.  In fact, they entertained themselves, and as for Nan Allen, she entertained everybody with whom she came in contact.  Mr. Fairfield expressed himself as being delighted to have Patty under the influence of such a gracious and charming young woman, and Aunt Alice quite agreed with him.  Marian adored Nan, and though she liked Bumble very much indeed, she took more real pleasure in the society of the older girl.

But they were a congenial crowd of merry young people, and when Mr. Hepworth came down from the city, as he often did, and Kenneth Harper drifted in from next-door, as he very often did, the house party at Boxley Hall waxed exceeding merry.

And there was no lack of social entertainment.  The Vernondale young people were quite ready to provide pleasures for Patty’s guests, and the appreciation shown by Nan and the Barlows was a decided and very pleasant contrast to the attitude of Ethelyn and Reginald.

Sailing parties occurred often, and these Nan enjoyed especially, for she was passionately fond of the water, and dearly loved sailing or rowing.

The Tea Club girls all liked Nan, and though she was older than most of them, she enjoyed their meetings quite as much as Bumble, Marian, or Patty herself.

Bob soon made friends with the “Tea Club Annex,” as the boys of Patty’s set chose to call themselves.  Though not a club of any sort, they were always invited when the Tea Club had anything special going on, and many times when it hadn’t.