Nor would they permit any of the girls to come into the house for the food.

Handing the breakfast out to the eagerly waiting hands of their companions, Grace and Miss Briggs soon followed and joined the girls at breakfast in the open.
It was not a particularly enjoyable meal.

Not once during the breakfast had one mentioned Hippy Wingate and his mission, and it was not until they had finished and sat back that Nora broached the subject.
"When should Hippy be back ?" she asked.
"If he found the doctor at once he should have been here two or three hours ago," replied Grace.
"Don't get excited, Nora," begged Elfreda, as Nora's face paled ever so little.

"A number of things may have occurred to detain him.

Hippy is not one to be beaten when he starts out with a definite purpose in view." "Especially when I am con-centrating on him," spoke up Emma.
This brought a laugh and put all the girls in instant good humor.