d
and relapsed into quiet again.

The two women glanced at Tory and then at Edith Linder, who was at
this instant coming across the yard with the tea.

The two girls were an apt illustration of Memory Frean's last
expressed opinion.

Edith had grown tall in the past year. Her features were large and a
little coarse, but handsome in their own fashion. There was about her
a look of capacity. If she had desired she could easily have lifted
and carried the other girl who was nearly her own age. Edith's family
had been small farmers for generations. Tory Drew's had been students
and artists and writers. She had no appearance of physical strength
and yet her vitality was probably as great.

She looked admiringly at the other girl.

"Edith is splendid. She knows more of cooking and practical things
than any girl in camp. She was trying to teach me to cook and we were
together a good deal of the time before Kara's accident. Now I see
little of any of the other girls, although I really think Kara often
would prefer anyone's society to mine."

Edith was by this time engaged in pouring the tea.

"I like to behave as if I were more at home in the House in the Woods
than any one of the other Scouts," she explained. "After all, I am the
only one who has lived here, although Tory is an older friend and my
greatest rival."

Edith spoke as if she meant seriously what she was saying. Yet she
spoke with entire good nature.

It had been agreed not to discuss the subject of the pageant until her
return.

The next half hour the two women and two girls talked of nothing else.

"I believe you should speak to other members of the Council beside
me," Miss Frean argued. "Mr. Fenton is fairy godfather to the camp in
Beechwood Forest. He is Tory's uncle and I think should be consulted.
If I remember correctly he used to be a Greek scholar. He is not apt
to have forgotten, and if he thinks well of the idea can be of great
assistance."

Before dusk Sheila Mason and Edith Linder started back for camp. They
left Tory to have supper with Miss Frean, who promised to bring her
home later.

The suggestion had originated with the Troop Captain.

Tory protested that Kara would need her services and be hurt if she
failed to appear.

"No, I want Miss Frean to talk to you for a special reason, Tory. I am
sure you will find that the other girls, with my help, are capable of
caring for Kara this one evening without you."

The little edge to