"I was thinking of camping," said Mr. Page. "I have a complete camping outfit and at my call a man, Charlie Dorner, who is the prince of cooks. He is, besides, a fine general utility man--can do anything." "That would be the ideal; but," sighed the doctor, "I wish I could go along." "And so you can; or join us later." "Well, we'll see about that. Just now we're talking of Mrs. Page. If you have an outfit of your own you need not be at anybody's mercy. But you must not choose too high a location, nor where it is likely to be too warm, nor an utterly inaccessible place. By that I mean she must not be too far from the railroad--or her doctor. What do you say to the Springs? I have an idea that the air and the hot water together would complete her cure." "The air!" exclaimed Aunt Mary. "Why, it is only fourteen miles from here; there can't be any difference in the atmosphere. Besides, those springs are in a valley; you can't have seen them. The fogs are dreadful in the early morning I have been told." "Not at _my_ Springs," said the doctor with a smile. "I'm speaking of Warner's Ranch, although I've stayed at the others and have seen wondrous cures effected there, I assure you." Aunt Mary had not been long in California, but she was fond of "reading up," and she had been reading about Warner's Ranch. "Do you mean the springs which belong, or were supposed to belong, to the Indians, from whose possession they are now going to be taken?" "Yes," replied the doctor; "and I think the whole proceeding is an infamous outrage." Nellie and Walter had been sitting quietly listening to their elders. But at this point in the conversation Walter, who was thirteen, exclaimed: "Oh, papa, let us go there, won't you? "Just think, Aunt Mary," he continued, "it is a regular Indian village, and in the summer the Indians move out of their houses and rent them to the white people. I knew a boy who lived in one, and he said it was fine. Wouldn't it be grand making believe to be an Indian!" "I sympathize with those poor creatures very much," said Aunt Mary. "I think it is heartless to evict them from their homes; but I _don't_ believe I should care to occupy one of the houses. It might not be clean, you know." "Well, that's as may be," said the doctor. "I have known persons loud in their praises of the place, and others whining about dirt and discomfort. You would not be subject to anything of that kind. You would have your large, clean, comfortable tents." "Let's tell mother. Let's ask her if she would like to go," said Nellie, speaking for the first time. "Of course she'll like it; she's certain to like it," cried Walter, springing to his feet. They were not long in ascending the stairs, though they went quietly, having become accustomed to making as little noise as possible during their mother's long and serious illness. Now that she was so much better they had not renounced the habit, which had become a sort of second nature to them.