“It must be the quiet of the country that gives you such a wonderful set of nerves,” Judith ruminated when they had reached their compartment. “I always feel I must explode, even when there is no chance of combustion. Here we are, without a hair lost, and I felt ten minutes ago we would never make this train.” “Perhaps it is sort of self reliance,” Jane ventured. “We ranchers never miss a train—wouldn’t dare to, we would have to wait too long for the next; but neither would we feel justified in getting all ruffled up in excitement. That is bad for—georgette crepe,” she finished, smoothing the texture mentioned, in her dainty little blouse, that had brushed up the least bit in the final good byes. “Now we can think of Wellington,” proposed Judith, settling back comfortably. “I just can’t bear to see Montana running away from me, so I refuse to look,” and she wheeled her chair around, back to window. “As you like,” agreed Jane. “But I am so fond of all the high spots of Yellowstone I want a very ‘lastest’ look. But let’s to Wellington. I do wonder how many of the old set will be back? The war has changed so many homes, we may have to take over an entirely new contingent.” “Best luck,” commented Judith. “We may thus eliminate the undesirables.” “And get a lot very much worse,” feared Jane. “How could we, with Marian Seaton?” “But we had Adrienne, and Norma and Dorothy—they more than outbalanced the rebels.” “Well, I claim,” and Judith produced the inevitable box of chocolates from her Indian beaded bag, “I claim that a girl who does not love—me or you, is not normal, for it is perfectly evident and obvious, and other synonyms, that we are simply—charming.” When Judith “went in the movies” even so far as to act a scene in the drawing room car, she never failed to “register” strong emotion. CHAPTER VI—JOURNEY DE LUXE “Judith,” said Jane with the solemnity of a senior, “I really feel we are facing a momentous year. Sports must be revived with vigor——” “Oh, you will take care of that, Janie dear,” interrupted Judith. “Even when I want to sleep a bit late o’ morning, and have been reading a little after hours the night before, I recall you have a knack of getting me out to practice. Now remember, girl, I positively refuse to hike a la empty. I must have my porridge first.” “But as I was saying about sports,” returned Jane, “I am ambitious for this year. We ought to make it the banner year for basketball.” “And we shall,” declared her chum. “With the skill you developed last season, and the wonderful team work we marshalled, I don’t see why we shouldn’t be able to go out, and simply eat up the other colleges. I’ve been playing bean bag with the Jap cook in Los Angeles to keep in trim.” “Thought beans were too costly to toss around,” joked Jane. “Judy, look at that dear little old lady over there,” indicating a chair near the rear of the car. “Just see the sampler she is working.”