“We are!” declared Jack. “And, if you like, when we go up to make arrangements we’ll hire a place for you.”
“Shall we let them, girls?” and Alice appealed to her chums.
The girls looked at each other. Their eyes were sparkling with the light of new resolves. They had never gone camping though the three who had brothers had spent a day in the latters’ tents on the shores of Green Lake, about fifty miles away, where the boys had, once or twice, enjoyed their summer vacations. But for some years past, woodland life seemed to have lost its charms. Now, with the advent of the Camp Fire Girls organization, it seemed likely to be revived.
There came a tap on the door, and Mabel, going to answer it found the maid there.
“Excuse me, Miss Mabel,” she said, “but do any of you want your fortunes told?”
“Our fortunes told?” echoed Mabel. “Why, Jennie, what do you mean?”
“There’s a Gypsy girl at the back door. She’s from that encampment over near Wilson’s woods, I guess. She asked me to inquire if there was any one who wanted their fortune told, and as I knew you had visitors, I thought——”
“Me for the Gypsy maiden!” sang out Blake.
“No, I’m going to see what the fateful future holds for me,” asserted Jack. “I want to see if I’m going to pass my exams.”
“Boys, be quiet!” commanded Mabel. “Girls, shall we do it—just for fun?” and she appealed to her chums. “Of course I don’t believe anything in it, but she may make a little diversion for us.”
“Just as if _we_ didn’t try,” complained Blake. “Come on, fellows, we’ll leave ’em to their own destruction.”
“If they’re going to have a fair Gypsy maiden in I want to hear what she says,” declared Jack.
“As if we would let you!” exclaimed Natalie.
“Do have her, Mabel,” urged Alice. “That is if your mother won’t object.”
“I don’t believe she will. I’ll ask her. Tell the Gypsy girl to wait, Jennie,” and Mabel hurried up to the sitting room where Mrs. Anderson was reading.
“What a lark!” exclaimed Jack. “I wonder if she’s pretty?”
“All Gypsy girls are,” declared Phil, “some more than others.”
“I admire your taste,” mocked his sister.
“Mother says it’s all right,” announced Mabel, hurrying back. “We’ll have her in here, and you boys will have to behave.”
“Did we ever do otherwise?” demanded Phil, pretending indignation.