"I got the idea from a book--it isn't original by any means. But then I always have been fond of walking--out in the country especially. Only it isn't so much fun going alone. So it occurred to me that you girls would like to join. We can take a nice long tramp the first opportunity we get." "Just us four?" asked Grace. "No, not necessarily. We can have as many members as we like." "I think four is a nice number," spoke Amy. She was rather shy, and not given to making new friends. "We four--no more!" declaimed Mollie. "Suppose we do limit it to four, Betty?" "Well, we can talk of that later. And I do so want to talk of it. I thought we'd never get out of school," and the four who had just been released from the Deepdale High School continued their stroll down the main street of the town, talking over the new plan that had been proposed that morning by Betty Nelson--the "Little Captain," as she was often called by her chums, for she always assumed the leadership in their fun and frolics. "Will we just walk--walk all the while?" asked Grace. "I'm afraid I shan't be able to keep up to you girls in that case," and she swung about on the sidewalk in a few steps of a mazy waltz with Amy. "Of course we won't walk all the while," explained Betty. "I haven't all the details arranged yet, but we can set a certain number of miles to cover each day. At night we'll stop somewhere and rest." "That's good," sighed Grace, with a glance at her small and daintily shod feet. "Oh, here comes your brother Will!" Betty called to her. "And that horrid Percy Falconer is with him," went on Mollie. "I--I can't bear him!" "He's seen Betty--that's why he's hurrying so," spoke Grace. "Probably he's bought a new cane he wants to show her." "Stop it!" commanded Betty, with a blush. "You know I can't bear him any more than you girls can." "You can't make Percy believe that--my word!" and Mollie imitated the mannerism perfectly. For young Falconer, be it known, was partial to good clothes of a rather flashy type, and much given to showing them off. He had very little good sense--in fact, what little he had, some of his enemies used to say, he displayed when he showed a preference for pretty Betty Nelson. But she would have none of his company. "I don't see why Will wants to bring him along," remarked his sister Grace, in a petulant tone. "He knows we don't like him." "Perhaps Will couldn't help it," suggested Amy. "That's nice of you to say, Amy," commented Grace. "I'll tell Will--some time when I get a chance." "Don't you dare! If you do I'll never speak to you again!" and the pink surged to a deeper red in Amy's cheeks. "Betty'd much rather have Will pick up Allen Washburn," remarked Mollie, in decisive tones. "Wouldn't you, Bet?" "Oh, please don't say such things!" besought Betty. "I don't see why you always--"