"Girls, what are we to do?" demanded Mollie. "We simply must go on to my sister's," declared Grace. "What will she think, if we don't come?" As if in answer, the storm burst into another spasm of fury, the rain coming down in "sheets, blankets and pillow cases," as Mollie grimly put it. "We can never go--in this downpour," declared Betty. "It would be sheer madness--foolishness, at any rate. We would be drenched in an instant, and perhaps take cold." "If there was only some way to let your sister know," spoke Mollie. "I wonder if there's a telephone?" It needed but a little survey to disclose that there was none. "If we could only see someone--send for a covered carriage, or send some word--" began Amy. "Oh, well, for the matter of my sister worrying, that doesn't amount to much," interrupted Grace. "When I wrote I told her it was not exactly certain just what day we would arrive, as I thought we might spend more time in some places than in others. That part is all right. What's worrying me is that we can't get to any place to spend the night--we can't have any supper--we--" "Girls!" cried Betty, with sudden resolve, "there is only one thing to do!" "What's that?" the others chorused. "Stay here. We'll get supper here--there must be food in the house. If the people come back we'll ask them to keep us over night--there's room enough." "And if they don't come?" asked Amy, shivering a little. "Then we'll stay anyhow!" cried the Little Captain. "We are in charge and we can't desert now." CHAPTER XVIII RELIEVED That Betty's suggestion was the most sensible one which could have been made they were all willing to admit when they had thought of it for a little while. "Of course it is possible for us to go out in this storm, and tramp on to Broxton," said Betty. "But would it be wise?" "Indeed not!" exclaimed Grace, as she glanced down at her trim suit, which the little wetting received in the dash to the house had not spoiled. "If we were boys we might do it, but, as it is--" "I won't admit that we can't do it because we are _not_ boys," said Betty. "Only just--" "Only we're just not going out in this storm!" said Mollie, decidedly. "We'll stay here, and if the people come back, and make a fuss, we'll pay, just as we would at a hotel. They won't be mean enough to turn us out, I think." "We'll stay--and get supper," cried Betty. "Come on, I'm getting hungrier every minute!" "If the people do come," remarked Amy, "they ought to allow us something for taking care of their house--I mean if they attempt to charge us as a hotel would, we can tell them how we shut the windows--" "At so much per window," laughed Mollie. "Oh, you are the queerest girl!" and she hugged her. "Well, let's get supper," proposed Betty again. "It will soon be dark, and it isn't easy going about a strange house in the dark." "There are lamps," said Mollie, pointing to several on a shelf in the kitchen.