nd Marjorie believed her.

"Promise to come to see me every day," urged Marjorie, as Alice turned
to leave her at the door of her room.

"I'd love to! But you'll get tired of me, I'm afraid."

"No, I won't! And remember--_you're my freshman_!"

"And it all goes to prove," she thought as she closed the door of her
room, "that Ruth may block my plans, but she can't influence the real
me! And I've really won, after all!"

CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST SCOUT MEETING

If the members of Pansy troop could have consulted their own wishes,
they would have held a Scout meeting as soon as all the girls had
arrived at school. But Miss Phillips had declared that such a thing was
impossible; there were too many other matters to attend to.

School had opened on Thursday, and the first real event outside of the
regular program had been the sophomore reception. It was not until over
a week afterward, on Friday evening, that the Girl Scouts met for the
first time.

The meeting was scheduled for seven-thirty, but by a quarter after the
hour, everyone of the fifteen girls had arrived.

Every Scout wore her uniform; as each one entered the little room which
had been set aside by Miss Allen for the troop, she saluted the Captain,
who sat at a desk in the front. It seemed like old times; only the two
seniors, who had been graduated, were missing. The present members
could not help thinking of them.

"Too bad we can't stay at Miss Allen's forever," remarked Marjorie; "it
seems awful to think we had to lose two Scouts."

"But we'll get more," observed Ruth, optimistically, who had never been
a girl of deep friendships.

"And next year Edith and Helen will be gone," continued Marjorie--"and
the others."

For an instant she came face to face with the great fact that has
staggered the individual since the beginning of civilization--the
realization of the ceaseless passage of time. Marjorie reflected, with a
certain sense of sadness, that she too must graduate, and leave the
school and the Scout troop to younger girls. The thought sobered her; it
was with an effort that she turned her attention to the Captain, as she
called the Scouts to order.

"We shall begin a trifle early," explained Miss Phillips, "since
everybody is here, for there is a great deal to talk about. Now--Troop,
_Attention_!"

The usual opening ceremony was performed, together with the recitation
of the Scout laws and pledge. It was so familiar to them all tha