in Amy's eyes, added cajolingly: "You always look as if you
came out of a bandbox yourself, you know. Please, dear--"

But Amy was already half way up the backstairs and paused to make a face
at her.

"Taffy!" she cried succinctly.

Five minutes later the three girls, in various attitudes of impatience,
were waiting for Grace while she still primped before the mirror.

"Just one minute more I give you," stated Mollie, regarding her wrist
watch frowningly.

"Oh, Mollie, if you only wouldn't talk so much," sighed Grace, turning
with an air of resignation from the mirror. "As soon as you begin to talk
everything goes wrong. My gloves walk under the bed, and my hair stands on
end--"

"Goodness," cried Mollie, looking injured, "anybody'd think I was a ghost.
I'll stand for being called lots of things, but a phantom--Ouch! Now
what's the idea?" For Grace's thumb and forefinger had come together in
the fleshy part of her arm.

"I was just trying to reassure you," explained Grace innocently, as Mollie
stared indignantly. "There's nothing the least bit ethereal--"

But Mollie waited to hear no more, and sped down the stairs after Betty to
bounce unceremoniously in upon the boys.

"Beware!" she cried. "A lunatic is about to descend upon us!"

"I should say one had already," grinned Allen, at which Mollie
surrendered.

"Everybody's against me," she sighed. "When one whom I have always called
my friend, turns agin me--Never mind," she added diplomatically, "I made
the layer cake, Allen Washburn--"

"Oh, Mollie, let me carry your pocketbook," begged Allen in alarm.

"How do I know you're honest?" she retorted with a twinkle, and peace was
once more restored.

The young folks paired off as usual, and Allen drew Betty a little behind
the others. The two formed so handsome a couple that many a passer-by
stopped and looked back after them with an admiring smile.

The camp training had improved Allen wonderfully. Always splendidly
athletic, he carried himself with a poise and moved with a swing that
spoke of perfectly trained muscles, while his handsome face had been
tanned to the color of an Indian's.

No wonder that when Allen bent toward her and spoke in a certain tone
reserved for her alone, Betty found it hard to look at this tall, bronzed
soldier who had been her faithful cavalier for--oh, she could not remember
how long.

"I haven't seen you for ages," he murmured, and she glanced sideways at
him, dimpling.