“We’ll have to cross over above the hills,” she explained, “and find a spot where we are allowed to make a fire. It’s against the law here.”
“What do we want a fire for?” demanded Stella.
“To cook our supper,” responded Marjorie wearily.
“I’ve got half a dozen doughnuts and a chocolate éclair,” remarked Annie. “That ought to see me through.”
“But we must have something substantial,” protested Marjorie. “And sausages aren’t good cold.”
“Sure, we can eat ’em, anyhow!” put in Queenie more cheerfully.
“But I wanted to teach you something about making a fire in the open,” sighed Marjorie.
“Oh, that’ll keep. Let’s eat and get home!”
A sense of the futility of her effort seized Marjorie, and she resolved desperately that she would give it all up. Lily was right; she was wasting her time, when she might be doing something worth while. Far better to turn in and help her classmates in their round of social and class duties, than to strive for something she could never attain. For she felt now absolutely certain that she could never reach these girls to influence them in any way.
“All right,” she agreed listlessly. “Let’s eat—and go.”
“Hike too much for you, too, Miss Wilkinson?” inquired Queenie.
“I guess so,” murmured Marjorie, beginning to unpack her basket.
The supper was a dismal affair, in no way resembling the happy campfire meals of her old troop. The girls ate little of Marjorie’s food and talked not at all. But they all consumed their bag of sweets.
“Oh, for a drink!” exclaimed Queenie, a few minutes later.
“Let’s go and get one,” suggested Marjorie. “There’s a spring back there on the drive.”
“You stay here, Miss Wilkinson, and we’ll bring you one. Tell us which way.”
Marjorie indicated the direction and began to pack the remains of the food into a basket, to leave for some wanderer less fortunately supplied. Then she gave her attention to picking up the papers which the girls had carelessly scattered, for she was too discouraged to insist upon their doing it. Finally she sat down to wait for their return.
Half an hour passed and they did not come; finally an hour. She began to be very cold. Could they be lost? A feeling of uneasiness took possession of her and she resolved to go in search of them. She hurried along the road which led back to the main driveway and found her way to the spring. But they were nowhere in sight.
