"Yes," admitted the others in a gloomy chorus.
"On this the third day of our voyage, while we are still in shallow water, as papa would say, there is not one of us who would not be glad to turn back again to the next railroad station, ship the Comet home by freight and take the first train to West Haven. Isn't it the truth?"
This frank declaration was greeted in silence.
"Oh, it's not quite as bad as that, dear," said Miss Campbell at last.
"Think of what we've got before us. Think of the splendid great West--think of the broad plains----"
"Plains," interrupted Elinor in a tone of weariness.
"Yes, plains," went on Billie, summoning all the eloquence she could command, "not like this, but marvelous great stretches of country filled with beautiful color; think of the ranches we wanted so much to see----"
"Yes, and the Indians, and the forests and--and the Rocky Mountains, and last of all, California!"
"Well, I'm thinking of them," observed Miss Campbell.
"And doesn't the prospect please you, Cousin Helen?"
Billie had slowed down the car and now turned to look at her cousin's face.
"Don't you think it will be thrilling, exciting, wonderful to have the Comet take us across all of this interesting country?"
The corners of Miss Campbell's lips drooped and she gave a pathetic smile.
"It would, dearest Billie, I am sure it would appear to me in all its true glory if I wasn't so--so very hungry."
Hungry! Here was a solution of this great depression. They were all of them famished with hunger. Not a decent meal had they eaten for two days. It was hunger gnawing at their vitals that had plunged them into the very depths of homesickness.
In the automobile was a complete outfit for cooking, a little alcohol stove and various dainty little utensils made of aluminum, all a rather costly present from their old friend, Mr. Ignatius Donahue, which he had sent, on being informed of the great journey of the Motor Maids across the continent.
"Have a piece of chocolate and a graham cracker, Miss Campbell?" Mary was asking in a tone of sympathy.
"Heavens, no, child," replied the little lady as near to being cross as she had ever been in her life. "Don't offer me such rubbish, as a substitute for good beefsteak and coffee that's really coffee?"