"You might ask him for your purse, Cousin Helen," suggested Billie.
"I shall always believe there was some mistake," answered her cousin.
"Anyhow, let's take the chances and wish for another meeting," said Elinor, "then Miss Campbell can say, 'Mr. Van Vechten, kindly restore my property.' Only she won't, because she hates to hurt other people's feelings."
"Very well, then, all at once," cried Nancy, forcing them into a close circle. "Now join hands and close your eyes and make the silent wish. Concentrate two minutes."
"Nancy, dear, I think you have been studying dream books," exclaimed Miss Campbell, amused at this ridiculous mummery.
Nevertheless, at precisely two minutes to one o'clock by the timepiece on the mantel, five pairs of hands joined together and five identical and simultaneous wishes went forth into space. Five little thought messengers linked together by a single wish, went out together into the vast universe. Then they separated and each took a different direction in search of that mysterious birdman, whose eyes at least were clear and brown and honest. And the first little winged thought who found Peter Van Vechten was to summon his aerial brothers from the ether. Promptly they would join hands and dancing in a circle about his head, as each passed an ear would whisper the message.
When the clock struck one the Motor Maids and Miss Campbell unlocked hands, and smiling quite gravely, considering it was all a joke, proceeded with their toilet for the luncheon of glorious anticipation.
That Mr. Daniel Moore's establishment was guiltless of any woman's touch was plainly evident. There was not a sign of femininity about it. It was as bare as a barracks and as plain as an old shoe. But the beds were soft and comfortable, as Miss Campbell could testify, for she took a nap on one of them in the interval which must be spent before lunch was announced.
After the girls had fluffed up their front hair or smoothed it out according to custom, and had brushed every fleck of dust from their neat traveling skirts, and washed the stains of the journey from their fresh young faces, they began to look about the rooms, to peer from the windows and peep into the hall, while they talked in whispers.