After her talk with John, Marjorie felt as if she could not endure the days of waiting, until she would have a chance to put her hopes to the test. Three days previous she had wished that the summer, with its glorious days of riding, might never come to an end; now, it could not pass quickly enough. She was restless and excited, unable to carry on a connected conversation with any of the girls. Several times she found herself on the point of confiding her hopes to Lily or Daisy; but, recalling how small were the chances of the girl’s proving to be Olive, she resolutely restrained herself. The other scouts noticed her preoccupation and smiled knowingly; they attributed her absent-mindedness to the presence of John Hadley. She lost no time, however, in telling them of Mrs. Hadley’s invitation. Alice and Lily were wild with delight, and most of the others seemed pleased. Only Daisy was doubtful about accepting it. “I hardly see how I could, Marj,” she said. “You know public school begins the eighth of September, and I have to be on the job at the very start. Now we don’t get home till the fourth, and you know how much there always is to do. I’m afraid I can’t very well arrange it, much as I should like to.” Marjorie showed her disappointment plainly. Was her whole plan to fall through, then, and was she not to know with certainty whether her expectancy was to be fulfilled? She resolved to try in every way to persuade Daisy to reconsider her decision. “But you won’t be working over the week-end!” she pleaded. “No, but it’s pretty far from where we live to Cape May. I mean, that after this summer’s vacation, I really can’t afford the expense.” Marjorie searched her mind for a method of persuasion. “Would you consider coming as my treat?” she said. “It would make my good time so much greater to have you. Please!” But Daisy shook her head firmly. “It’s impossible, Marj, thank you just the same! Even if it weren’t for the expense, I really oughtn’t to leave mother. It’s been hard enough for her already.” Reluctantly, Marjorie accepted her refusal, for she could not help seeing that Daisy was right. As she said, it would be selfish of her to leave her mother again; and Daisy was never selfish. Perhaps, too, it might be better. If the girl were not Olive, there would be no use in dragging Daisy away from her home; and if she should turn out to be the missing sister, it might even be wiser to break the news to both girls less abruptly. Such a shock might prove disastrous to either or both of them, coming as it would, after the long strain. So the rest of the scouts discussed the invitation and decided that the first week-end after they had returned to the East would be most suitable. Accordingly, Marjorie wrote to Mrs. Hadley immediately. The evening before the scouts were to leave, Kirk Smith asked Marjorie and Daisy to go out with him to see the moon. Marjorie surmised that he wanted a little last talk with them privately.