Betty voiced something of this to Bob as she unfastened the towel and let her heavy dark hair fall over her shoulders.  She was sitting on the back porch where the afternoon sun shone unobstructed.

“Yes, I guess automobiles are a good thing,” admitted Bob absently.  “I want Aunt Faith to get one.  A runabout would be handy for them—­one like Doctor Guerin’s.  Remember, Betty?”

“My goodness, I haven’t read Norma’s letter!” said Betty hastily.  “I left it in my other blouse.  Wait a minute, and I’ll get it.”

She dashed into the house and was back again in a moment, the letter Bob had handed her just before the shower of oil, in her hand.

Bob, in his favorite attitude of lying on his back and staring at the sky, was startled by an exclamation before Betty had finished the first page of the closely written missive.

“What’s the matter?” he demanded, sitting up.  “Anybody sick?”

“Oh, Bob, such fun!” Betty’s eyes danced with pleasure.  “What do you think!  Norma and Alice Guerin are going to Shadyside!”

“Well, I’m willing to jump with joy, but could you tell me what Shadyside is, and where?” said Bob humbly.  “Why do the Guerin girls want to go there?”

“I forgot you didn’t know,” apologized Betty.  “Shadyside is the boarding school, Bob.  That’s the name of the station, too.  It’s five hours’ ride from Washington.  Let’s see, there’s Bobby and Louise Littell and Libbie, and now Norma and Alice—­five girls I know already!  I guess I won’t be homesick or lonely.”

But as she said it she glanced uncertainly at Bob.

That young man snickered, turned it into a cough, and that failing, essayed to whistle.

“Bob, you act too funny for anything!” This time Betty’s glance was not one of approval.  “What does ail you?”

“Nothing, nothing at all, Betsey,” Bob assured her.  “I’m my usual charming self.  Are Norma and Alice going to Washington first?”

“No.  I wish they were,” answered Betty, taking up the letter again.  “Bob, I’m afraid they’re having a hard time with money matters.  You know Dr. Guerin is so easy-going he never collects one-third of the bills he sends out, and any one can get his services free if they tell him a hard luck story.  Norma writes that she and Alice have always wanted to go to Shadyside because their mother graduated from there when it was only a day school.  Mrs. Guerin’s people lived around there somewhere.  And last year, you know, Norma went to an awfully ordinary school—­good enough, I suppose, but not very thorough.  She couldn’t prepare for college there.”

“Well, couldn’t we fix it some way for them?” asked Bob interestedly.  “I’d do anything in the world for Doctor Guerin.  Didn’t he row me that time he found us out in the fields at two o’clock in the morning?  You think up some way to make him accept some money, Betty.”