PREPARING FOR THE UNKNOWN


The letter sent from Pebbly Pit to Anne Stewart was forwarded by the
latter to the Maynard girls in Chicago. It was eagerly read aloud to
Mrs. Maynard by Barbara. Reaching the paragraph in the letter where
Mrs. Brewster asked Anne Stewart if she thought five dollars a week for
the board of each would be asking too much, Barbara dropped the sheet
of paper and gasped. An expression of incredulity appeared on the faces
of the mother and daughter, while Eleanor laughed outright.

"Just fancy! Five dollars a week!" she cried, throwing herself back on
the cushions of the divan.

"It must be a mistake! I trust it isn't meant for fifty a week! That is
about the price a good hotel would charge, but I had hoped this place
would be more reasonable. However, I am quite sure that figure five is
a mistake; no one can possibly give meals at that rate, no matter how
meager the fare may be!" declared Mrs. Maynard.

"The writing is plain enough and so is the figure '5,' mother,"
returned Barbara, referring again to the letter, then handing it to her
mother.

Mrs. Maynard adjusted her lorgnette and studied the figure given. "It
_does_ seem to be five, without a doubt!" admitted she.

"Oh, well! it really doesn't matter much what the price is just as long
as we have a good time this summer!" exclaimed Eleanor.