“Isn’t he the prize old dad?” laughed Jane, a suspicious moisture appearing on her eye-lashes.

“He ith too eathy with you, that ith what ith the matter with him,” declared Tommy abruptly.

“Of course he is,” admitted Jane.  “He is afraid to be otherwise.  Let’s go back and see what’s going on.  It looks like a regular circus.  What time do they feed the animals?”

“Dinner is at half past six, if that is what you mean,” replied Harriet rather severely.  “May I make a suggestion or two, Jane?”

“Sure you may.  Is it a lecture?”

“A sort of lecture.”

“Advance your spark.  I’m in on the back seat.”

“You should try to control yourself here.  The girls will think you unfit to associate with them if you are so boisterous.  Besides, Mrs. Livingston will not tolerate it.”

“What, be a goody-goody girl?” demanded Jane, opening her eyes in amazement.

“No.  But try to curb your spirits a little.”

“Darlin’, I can’t do it.  I’ve got to be my own natural self.  If they don’t like me they can tell me to go home.  I don’t care so long as you and Tommy dear, and Hazel, and cross, cranky Margery like me a little bit.”

“We do like you,” answered Harriet impulsively.  “We will see that the other girls do not misunderstand you altogether, if we can make them see you as you really are.”

“There goes a bell.  What is it, fire?” demanded Jane, looking up expectantly.

“Goodness no!” answered Harriet laughing.  “That is the ‘get-ready’ bell.  We must hurry and prepare for dinner.  You will want to change your gown, will you not?”

“Change!  Well, you watch Jane McCarthy.  Where do they feed the animals?”

“In the tent with the blue flag.  Be sure to be on time.  Half past six, remember,” cautioned Harriet as the girls separated at Jane’s tent.  Jane promised to be on time, then she disappeared into her tent.

Harriet and Tommy went directly to their own quarters where they washed their hands and faces and rearranged their hair before going to dinner.  There was no necessity to dress as on week days all the girls were required to wear their uniforms.

“I think there ith going to be thome fun in thith camp,” observed Grace from behind the towel with which she was rubbing her face.

“You mean with Jane?”

“Yeth, Crathy Jane.”

“She is a good soul, but won’t she shock some of these really nice girls with her abrupt ways until they get to know her for the fine, big-hearted girl that she is!”

Mrs. Livingston and the guardians appeared soon thereafter, then after pleasant greetings the Camp Girls moved into the cook tent, taking their places behind their chairs, where they awaited the command of “seats.”  Mrs. Livingston gazed up and down the rows of tanned faces, at the many pairs of bright, sparkling eyes.

“Where is Miss McCarthy?  Is she aware that dinner is about to be served?” asked the Chief Guardian.