they approach softly without being observed.

The older woman wore no hat, and a simple outdoor cotton dress of pale
gray, with a deep blue scarf over her shoulders.

Her hair was more carefully arranged than usual in the shining, heavy
brown braids Tory so often had admired.

In truth Memory Frean had begun to take more interest in her personal
appearance since her meeting with Victoria Drew on the wintry road. So
long she had lived alone in her little House in the Woods, with her
outdoor interests in the summer time and her books in winter, that she
had grown too careless.

The meeting with Tory had brought back old friends and memories. Tory
had introduced her to the Girl Scouts of the Eagle's Wing. Now, as a
member of their Council, Memory felt as if the girls were her adopted
daughters.

Edith Linder had been in a measure her adopted daughter. She had lived
for the past winter in the house with Miss Frean.

Now Edith uttered an exclamation of pleasure, which at Tory's gesture
she quickly subdued.

Memory Frean was standing in the center of a plot of grass with her
arms outstretched. Fluttering about her head were a family of wrens.
Two had alighted within the palms of her hands and were gazing toward
her with serious intentness.

In a nearby tree stood a new bird house, which she must recently have
placed in position, as not far off was another bird house smaller and
shabbier. Outside the door of the new home a feast of bread crumbs had
been spread.

By and by one of the wrens flying near the new abode, pecked at a
crumb. Something gave him confidence and courage. Inside the open door
he disappeared. Instantly the entire family followed.

The three visitors burst into a cry of admiration. Memory Frean came
toward them, still with her arms outstretched.

"I have been expecting you all day. No Girl Scout has been near me
since Edith came on a borrowing expedition late yesterday afternoon.
If you had waited any longer I should have been offended. See, I have
put on a clean dress, and the water is boiling for tea, and the table
spread in the Shakespeare garden."

Miss Frean led the way, with Edith and Tory clinging to her and Sheila
Mason following.

The herbs in the Shakespeare garden were in the perfection of bloom.
In the fragrance of the summer air mingled the pungent odors of thyme
and marjoram, sage and rosemary.

A bunch of the herbs decorated the small round table.

Edith Linder disappeared