"Might as well find out, first, if you can use the team and wagon. Jeb only goes to town when anything has to be had here or shipped away by train. A trip of twelve miles is not a trifle every day in the week," remarked Eleanor. "I'll ride a horse to Oak Creek myself. I'll not stand this awful place another day!" declared Barbara. "You can't ride a horse without its owner's permission." "Besides," added Eleanor as an afterthought occurred to her, "you only have your new traveling suit and the little light summer frock here. The trunks are going back to Oak Creek to-day, you said, and your riding habit is in one of them." Barbara made no reply to this statement and Eleanor drew on her stockings and then sought for her shoes which she had playfully aimed at Anne Stewart the night previous. One was found by the bureau and the other was seen under the window. She ran over to pick up the one by the window. "Oh, Bob! Come here quick!" "What is it?" cried Barbara, hastily running over to join her sister. "My! The sun has just touched those snow-covered peaks! I never saw anything so dazzlingly beautiful!" sighed Eleanor, lost in contemplation of the sight. Barbara also stood watching the sun-beams glancing over the towering peaks, and then she said apologetically: "I never said the _scenery_ wasn't wonderful. It is! But one cannot thrive on mountains, or associate with views." "Still, it goes a long way towards creating environment, while the atmosphere and friendships are up to the individual," retorted Eleanor. "Oh, well, you have the knack of making friends with any one, but I am more reserved and ideal in nature, so I simply cannot accommodate myself to such people and places as this!" "No, but you can accommodate yourself to some empty-headed society youth who hangs over your hotel-piazza chair and tells foolish fibs to feed your vanity!" scorned Eleanor. Another sisterly scene might have ensued had not Anne entered the room at this critical time. "Girls, better hurry and finish dressing as breakfast is almost ready to serve," said she, after a pleasant morning greeting. "How long have you been up?" asked Barbara. "Oh, an hour or more. I succeeded in working out a scheme I had to make things pleasanter for every one, and I want you to hurry and approve of it." CHAPTER VII A LITTLE SCHEME THAT WORKED Anne lay with closed eyes for a long time revolving many plans for the ultimate harmony of that summer, and when she finally allowed herself to sleep, she had a scheme that she was going to try the next day. As she came from her room early in the morning, she spied Polly sitting disconsolately on the porch-steps. She went over and sat down beside her.