The school year was over. Trunks strapped and ready to be taken away were piled high in the lower corridor. Girls arrayed in traveling suits, many of them with hats already on, were hurrying about visiting each other’s rooms to say farewell.

“Oh, how I do envy you all,” Betsy Clossen declared as she stood by the window watching Babs and Megsy in their last preparations for departure.

“You four girls all going West together with that nice Benjy Wilson as escort. I’d give anything if I could go, too, but Fate is certainly against me.”

The usually cheerful Betsy Clossen looked so dismally doleful that Margaret sprang up from the floor where she had been strapping a suitcase and caught the hands of her friend as she exclaimed: “Why, Betsy, you look as though you were about to cry. What has happened? I thought you had such happy plans for the summer? Aren’t you going to that nice aunt’s summer home for three months?”

The other girl shook her head. “I did expect to go and I was so happy about it,” she replied, “but today Mrs. Martin had a long distance telephone message from my uncle. The boys have scarlet fever and the house will be quarantined for at least a month, maybe even longer.”

Virginia, who had appeared in the doorway, had heard and she said: “Why, Betsy, that will leave you all alone in this big rambling old house, won’t it, for even Mrs. Martin is going and only a caretaker is to remain.”

The girl nodded and tears rolled down her cheeks, “Dad would have taken me with him had he known, but he sailed for London last week on business.” Then with April-like suddenness, she smiled through her tears and exclaimed with an effort at cheerfulness, “But there, I don’t want to sadden you all on this day which has been such a happy one. I suppose it won’t be so very terrible when I get used to it. I can read all the books in the library and—and—” the poor girl’s lips quivered, and throwing her arms about Virginia, she sobbed, “but worst of all will be nights without one of you here. I’ve tried all day to be brave, the way you would have been, Virginia, but I guess we’re made of different material.”

Virg had been thinking rapidly. “Wait here a moment,” she said. “I’ll be back in a jiff.” Then away Virginia went, leaving her companions to wonder where she was going and why. A moment later she tapped on the office door of the principal. That good woman bade her enter and Virginia said, “Mrs. Martin, would it be possible for Betsy Clossen to visit me on the V. M. Ranch during the month that her aunt’s home is quarantined?”

The older woman looked up brightly and picking up a yellow envelope, she exclaimed, “Betsy’s aunt just wired me two hundred dollars and asked me to send the little girl to some summer camp where I knew she would be well cared for and happy, but nowhere in the world would Betsy be happier, dear Virginia, than with you.” Then the principal glanced at her watch. “Do you think that you girls could help her pack and be ready for the second bus which leaves in one hour?”

“Indeed we can, Mrs. Martin, and thank you ever and ever so much. We all love Betsy and will be ever so glad to have her with us.”

When she was alone, Mrs. Martin thought. “Dear girl, it is her joy to give pleasure to others and it isn’t a pose either. It is just Virginia.”

The girls were watching the open door when they heard the feet of their returning friend dancing along the corridor.

“Virginia has some good news,” Margaret said brightly. “I can tell by the way she is skipping.”

It was indeed marvellously good news to Betsy Clossen and to the other girls who were going West. They wanted to dance in a ring around, but Virg laughingly remonstrated. “Take off your hats, Megsy and Babs, and forward march to Betsy’s room. We have fifty minutes by the clock to pack her trunk,” she commanded.

“You’d better wash your face. It’s all tear stains.” Babs looked critically at the now fairly beaming Betsy.

“I’ll say I’ll wash,” was the characteristic reply. “Oh, girls, aren’t we going to have scads of fun? Of all my maddest, gladdest, never-expected-to-come-true dreams, this is the superlativest.” Betsy was getting into her traveling suit with little heed to which button went where. However, so rapidly and skillfully did loving hands help that by quarter to ten they were all in the lower corridor waiting for the second bus.

“Megs, I wish you’d give me the once over,” Betsy begged. “I feel sure some of the hooks got into the wrong eyes, and my hair actually feels tousled.”

Margaret laughed. “Betsy won’t care how her hair looks when she rides bareback out on the desert,” she said to Babs.

“Me? Ride bareback? Why, I’ve never even been on horseback.”

“Then you have a new experience ahead of you. I’ll prophecy that before a week is out you’ll be riding the wildest broncho Malcolm has on V. M.,” Margaret told her.

Just then the principal appeared and Virginia, stepping from the group, said: “Mrs. Martin, the girls have asked me to tell you that we are most grateful for all that you have done for us during the past year. Babs is coming back, but Margaret and I are planning to remain with my brother.” Then impulsively the girl added. “Mrs. Martin, won’t you come West some day and visit us?”

In thinking of it afterwards Virginia could only recall that the principal had kissed her with unusual tenderness, then the bus had arrived, the trunk was carried out and the girls were urged by Micky to hurry.

As the two big white horses turned out between the high stone gates, Virginia looked back at the imposing building. Her mother’s wish had been fulfilled. The daughter she so loved had been East to school, and how Virginia hoped that she was now better fitted to fill that loved mother’s place in the home that had been so lonely on V. M. Ranch.