Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/175

Rh an early return, and one, arriving the morning the holidays began, settled the matter finally.

“Business moves too slowly in these Spanish-American countries,” his father wrote, “and what you think you can do in one day  always takes you two or three. Therefore plans for one year are almost bound to stretch  into two, so do not be disappointed, son, if we  do not come back until autumn.”

Billy put down the letter when he had read so far and sat staring at the opposite wall. It seemed too hard to endure after he had waited  patiently for so long. He picked up the page and read on.

“Your mother and I have decided that since you must spend another summer alone you  might as well have the camping trip you had  so counted on last year. Ask any three of the boys you like and make all your own plans. Otto Bradford at Mason’s Falls will be the best guide for you to take; you remember we  had him two years ago. Indeed, if your Easter vacation is extended, as the headmaster wrote me it might be, you could run out to  Montana and make your arrangements with  Otto; that would probably be most satisfac-