“And what’s that?” the captain inquired.

“All the scouts must have their suits.  It will be necessary if the plan which has just come into my mind can be worked out.”

“Hey, d’ye hear that?” the captain roared, as if he were giving orders to a rebellious crew.  “Ye must have yer suits, and then we’ll git down to work in dead earnest.”

Rod was anxious to get home to show Mr. and Mrs. Royal his new suit.  They had been waiting for him for some time, and were quite anxious, as the steamer had been up for over an hour.  When he entered the dining-room they thought that they had never beheld such a fine-looking boy.  Their hearts swelled with pride, and Mrs. Royal secretly brushed away a tear with the corner of her apron.

Rod told them all about what they had done in the city, about Peter McDuff, the parade, and how the Hillcrest troop was going to enter the contest for the prize.  This was of much interest to the Royals, and they sat at the table later than usual discussing the whole matter.

“I have important news for you this evening, Rodney,” Parson Dan after a while informed him.  “I had a letter from your mother to-day, and she says that she hopes to pay us a visit sometime this summer.”

“Oh!” It was all that the boy could say, but several anxious thoughts surged through his mind.  Was his mother coming to take him away? he wondered.  He did not wish to go, as all of his interests were centred in Hillcrest.

Mr. and Mrs. Royal, too, looked grave.  They had thought of the same idea.  Would Rod’s mother ask them to give up the boy?  How could they part with him? they asked themselves.

“When is she coming, grandad?” Rod at last asked.

“She doesn’t say, so we may expect her at almost anytime.”

“I don’t want to see her,” the boy cried, while tears started in his eyes.

“Don’t want to see your mother, Rodney!” the clergyman exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes, in a way I want to see her,” was the faltering reply.  “But if she wants to take me away, I don’t want her to come.  Oh, don’t let her take me, grandad,” and Rod sprang to his feet, and stood beseechingly before the parson.  “Why should she come for me now?  If she wanted me very much, why didn’t she come before?”

“There, there, dear, don’t worry,” Mrs. Royal soothed.  “It is hardly likely that your mother will wish to take you away from us.  It is only natural that she should long to see you.  There must be some good reason why she could not come before.  You had better go to bed now, for you must be tired after your busy day.”

The scouts were anxious to know what plan Whyn would suggest for raising money, and so they were earlier than usual at her room on the following afternoon.  It was a beautiful day, and through the open window drifted the scent of flowers, and new-mown hay.  It was a cool refreshing spot, this little room, where the bright-faced girl received her visitors.  Captain Josh was not present, as he had work to do in his garden.