“Oh, how lovely!  Kate, hear this:  Nannie Bigelow is coming here to see us next month.”

“I shall be here until the middle,” said Harvey, “and she’ll go home with us.  I’ve an aunt in Springfield and she’ll go there for a visit first.  After that she’ll come on here and spend a few days if you girls want her to.”

“I’m so glad,” said Ethel, and she ran to tell her mother.

Teddy Kip was a handsome lad of about eighteen.  Immediately Patty Sands suggested that he must see everything, so she took him off under her wing.  The rest sat on the ground while Harvey related several anecdotes and funny experiences that had befallen his patrol since they came to Camp.

“Now you must stay and dine with us,” said Kate.  “Our cooking may not surprise you, as it is the Scouts’ way as well, but we’ll give you a change—­a shore dinner.  Father sent up some very fresh clams.  We’ll steam them, and we’ll have roasted potatoes, corn, and broiled chicken, a little salad and a ripe watermelon to finish.”

“Well, I declare—­’pon my word, one might imagine himself in Rhode Island.  We’ll stay,” and he smacked his lips.

“Nora, will you take Mr. Bigelow and show him our cellar.  And the boys—­perhaps they’ll help us to prepare our meal,” said Kate.

The young fellows were delighted to help the girls.  Nora arose slowly and Harvey followed.

Kate remarked to Ethel that Nora had changed so since her mother’s death and asked her if she had noticed it.

“Yes, I do notice that she seems more quiet,” replied Ethel.

“But you still dislike her though?” asked Kate.

“I don’t know,” replied Ethel.  “I’m ashamed to admit it, Cousin Kate, but I can never seem to overcome that antipathy to her.  If only her voice would lower a little, and if she’d cease to come up and slap one on the back I might feel differently, but she’s so rough and unladylike.”

“Ethel, environments may have had much to do with that.  She seems to love your mother.  But here comes Patty with young Kip.”

“What a dandy site you have here for a Camp,” said the young man.  “Gee! it’s choice.  It beats ours.”

When dinner was ready how they ate!  They pronounced it equal to the best shore dinner ever prepared, and when finished there was nothing left excepting clam shells and corn cobs.

That was Mrs. Hollister’s last day in Camp.  She had been with the girls for two weeks.  After leaving Camp she was to spend half of her time with Kate’s parents and the remaining with Aunt Susan.

Harvey and Teddy stayed until nearly five o’clock, and it was with regret on both sides that they had to go.

The next day being Sunday, Kate read the prayers while they all sung several hymns, after which each girl was left to do as she chose.  Ethel proposed to ride horseback.  Several joined together and hired a buckboard for the afternoon.