placing her upon a
pedestal.

From her present speech and manner Bettina realized that she was both
jealous and hurt over their apparent disregard of her, for she had an
almost ridiculous craving for affection as an ordinary human being,
caring but little for the admiration which was a tribute to her as an
artist rather than a woman.

Nevertheless Bettina laughed in an entirely unsympathetic fashion.

"Well, we did wish to discuss something before you put in an appearance,
but now the discussion has been over for some time, we very much desire
your society. Yet only if you are amiable, because just at this time it
is enormously important that you should be."

Mrs. Burton frowned and then laughed, a little teased by Bettina's too
evident understanding of her state of mind.

Marta Clark said nothing. She had not yet acquired the habit of
regarding her Camp Fire guardian in any spirit save one of devoted
admiration. But Marta was the latest of the group of Sunrise Camp Fire
girls and of necessity knew her less well than the others. Moreover,
Marta also dreamed of a future dramatic career and it was not so easy
to take simply the one woman who personified her own ideals.

In the circle on the ground Peggy Webster had arranged a leather cushion
ornamented with Camp Fire designs as a seat of honor for their guardian
when she finally arrived.

Sitting down, Mrs. Burton clasped her hands over her knees, gazing
curiously around.

"Is this a conspiracy or rebellion, or a plot?" she demanded. "It seems
to me, Mollie Webster, not only because you are my sister, but because
we alone belong to the same generation, that you at least should not
have been one of the conspirators."

Like the proverbial Charlotte in "Wilhelm Meister," who went on cutting
bread and butter, Mrs. Webster, without replying, continued knitting.

"Oh, our plot is not dangerous, or at least we do not think it is,
although you may feel differently," Peggy Webster announced, to whom the
task of imparting the information evidently had been awarded. "We have
merely been discussing the idea of forming a Camp Fire branch to the War
Camp Recreation League. You remember this League is to do whatever is
possible for the entertainment of the soldiers and we talked of our
share in it after our visit to the war camp the other day."

Mrs. Burton appeared slightly suspicious.

"I also remember, Peggy, that it was agreed I was to be allowed to
choose what form