dear, don't worry," Mrs. Royal soothed. "It is hardly
likely that your mother will wish to take you away from us. It is only
natural that she should long to see you. There must be some good
reason why she could not come before. You had better go to bed now,
for you must be tired after your busy day."

The scouts were anxious to know what plan Whyn would suggest for
raising money, and so they were earlier than usual at her room on the
following afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and through the open
window drifted the scent of flowers, and new-mown hay. It was a cool
refreshing spot, this little room, where the bright-faced girl received
her visitors. Captain Josh was not present, as he had work to do in
his garden.

Whyn greeted the boys with a smile, and after they had seated
themselves upon chairs and the floor, she plunged at once into the
subject of special interest.

"Let's give a concert," she abruptly began.

"A what?" the boys exclaimed.

"A concert and a tea. Don't you understand? I have been talking it
over with the captain and Mrs. Britt, and they think it a good idea.
The plan is this: We shall invite all the people in the place to come
early before it gets dark. They can gather in front of the house so I
can see what is going on. We will ask Parson Dan to give a speech, and
then you scouts will show what you can do. You will give a talk on the
flag, tie the knots, say the scout law, and do some signalling. After
that the captain will march you up and down before the people, and you
will do the staff-drill which he is going to teach you. Then you will
sell ice-cream and candy. Each scout is to bring something, and Mrs.
Britt will make the candy. Perhaps other people will assist, too. Oh,
it will be grand!"

"How much do you think we will make, Whyn?" one of the boys asked.
"Can't we have something bigger than that? It will take a long time to
earn much money that way."

"It will be a beginning, though," was the quiet reply. "We must not
expect to raise all the money at once. After we are through with this
we can try something else. We might get fifty people to come, and if
we sell tickets at ten cents each that will bring us in five dollars.
I am sure the summer people will come, and we may have more than fifty.
Then, we should make five dollars from the refreshments, and that will
be ten dollars in all, which will not be too bad for a start."

The scouts finally agreed to what