Barbara was holding forth on her wrongs. "I can't see for the life of
me, Anne, why you selected such an outlandish spot as this, for us, in
which to waste a precious summer. Why, it is simply _unbearable_--
nothing but mountains and trails in sight! And no one but just farmers
to associate with! Oh, oh!" The accent on "farmers" made Polly wince
and Eleanor frown, at the speaker. Anne hastened to change the subject
for she feared Mr. Brewster might turn his horses and take them all
back to Oak Creek station.
It was a duel of dialogue between Anne and Barbara after that, each one
trying to keep up a conversation they wished to down the other with.
Thus the wagon reached the porch.
Polly sprang out and ran indoors unnoticed by any one. Eleanor was
deeply interested in gazing out at the great crater bowl that formed
the pasture and farm-lands of Pebbly Pit. Anne was anxious to have her
charges make a good impression on Mrs. Brewster and so she jumped out
and held a hand to assist Barbara.
The lady of the house stood waiting to welcome the girls, when Sary ran
out from the kitchen, hurriedly drying her wet hands on an apron. She
fully expected to shake hands with the fine ladies, when her turn came
to be introduced. She stood directly back of her mistress peering
eagerly at the new-comers in their simple straw hats, severe cloth
suits, and shoes, gloves, and veils of the finest.
Before Anne Stewart could open her lips to introduce the girls, Barbara
sent a scornful glance over the group and then at the ranch-house, and
said: "What a barracks! It's nothing more than a log cabin on a
gigantic scale.
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