concerned, she
passed--two days before the girls were scheduled to leave. And, at the
same time, Helen Stewart fulfilled the requirements and brought the
party to the desired number of nine.

The girls preferred not to wear their Scout uniforms on the train, but
carried them along in case they might need them for some official
occasion. Miss Phillips said that she rather hoped there might be a
Scout rally while they were there, thus affording them a chance to meet
other Girl Scouts.

"How do you want to room?" she asked, as they were waiting in the
station. "A letter from the hotel says that there are three bedrooms and
a bath together on one side of the hall, and two--one is a single room
for me--on the other. Now who is rooming with whom?"

"Marj and I are together!" cried Lily, proudly.

"Frances and I," announced Ethel Todd.

"Doris and I," said Ruth.

"So Edith and Helen must be," laughed Miss Phillips. "Well, that works
out very well. Now she wants to come across the hall with me, and who
wants to stay on the other side?"

"Oh, let Lil and me be with you!" exclaimed Marjorie, eagerly; and as
she was the first to speak for the honor, none of the others protested.

With the exception of Edith and Miss Phillips, none of the party had
ever visited Washington before, and the trip from the start was filled
with interest. The girls watched everything out of the window, and
laughed and chatted all the way. Since it was vacation, and a party,
Miss Phillips permitted candy, and before they had gone very far Lily
produced a beautiful box which her father had sent to her that very day.

They reached the hotel in time for dinner Thursday evening. The rooms,
with their soft carpets, their luxurious chairs, pretty electric lights
and comfortable beds were a novelty to most of the Scouts.

Sitting at the hotel table, listening to the music while they ate, and
ordering from the menu cards, proved a delightful experience. The girls
could scarcely eat, so interested were they in looking around the big
dining-room, watching the people, and now and then catching sight of
themselves in the many mirrors about the walls; and all the while
conscious of the delicate odor of roses and the swinging rhythm of the
music.

"I think it would be fun enough to stay in a hotel for three days,"
remarked Ethel, sipping her consomme, "without doing another single
thing!"

"But our friend and benefactor wouldn't be satisfied with that,"