It had all been planned a hundred times, under the big lamp in the Sausalito sitting-room.  The twelve o’clock train—­Farwoods Station at five—­an hour’s ride in the stage—­six o’clock.  Then they would be at the cabin, and another hour—­say—­would be spent in the simplest of housewarming.  A fire must be built to dry bedding after the long months, and to cook bacon and eggs, and just enough unpacking to find night-wear and sheets.  That must do for the first night.

“But we’ll sit and talk over the fire,” Betsey would plead.  “Please, Mother!  We’ll be all through dinner at eight o’clock I”

The train however was late, nearly half-an-hour late, when they reached Farwoods.  The stage, pleasant enough in pleasant weather, was disgustingly cramped and close inside.  Susan and Betsey were both young enough to resent the complacency with which Jimmy climbed up, with his dog, beside the driver.

“You let him stay in the baggage-car with Baloo all the way, Mother,” Betts reproached her, flinging herself recklessly into the coach, “and now you’re letting him ride in the rain!”

“Well, stop falling over everything, for Heaven’s sake, Betts!” Susan scolded.  “And don’t step on the camera!  Don’t get in, Billy,—­ I say don’t get in!  Well, why don’t you listen to me then!  These things are all over the floor, and I have to—–­”

“I have to get in, it’s pouring,—­don’t be such a crab, Sue!” Billy said pleasantly.  “Lord, what’s that!  What did I break?”

“That’s the suitcase with the food in it,” Susan snapped.  “Please wait a minute, Betts!—­All right,” finished Susan bitterly, settling herself in a dark corner, “tramp over everything, I don’t care!”

“If you don’t care, why are you talking about it?” asked Betts.

“He says that we’ll have to get out at the willows, and walk up the trail,” said Mrs. Carroll, bending her tall head, as she entered the stage, after a conversation with the driver.  “Gracious sakes, how things have been tumbled in!  Help me pile these things up, girls!”

“I was trying to,” Susan began stiffly, leaning forward to do her share.  A sudden jolt of the starting stage brought her head against Betts with a violent concussion.  After that she sat back in magnificent silence for half the long drive.

They jerked and jolted on the uneven roads, the rain was coming down more steadily now, and finally even Jimmy and the shivering Baloo had to come inside the already well-filled stage.

It was quite dark when they were set down at the foot of the overgrown trail, and started, heavily loaded, for the cabin.  Wind sighed and swept through the upper branches of the forest, boughs creaked and whined, the ground underfoot was spongy with moisture, and the air very cold.

The cabin was dark and deserted looking; a drift of tiny redwood branches carpeted the porch.  The rough steps ran water.  Once inside, they struck matches and lighted a candle.