she was talking of trivialities until the moment when Kara
would admit her inside her closed citadel.

How long before she would speak a second time?

Walking over toward Kara, Tory took a low seat beside the wheeled
chair.

With a swift gesture of affection she placed a square book on Kara's
lap. The book was of heavy paper, golden in color back and front and
with silver-gray leaves inside. On the outside cover was a painting of
an eagle's wing.

"This is the first time we have ever had a written history of our week
at camp, Kara dear. But we decided the other night at our Troop
meeting to arrange this to bring to you. So whatever we dropped into
the big box in front of Miss Mason's tent we put inside this book. I
have made some sketches and Joan Peters has written a poem dedicated
to you. Please look for yourself, won't you?"

Kara turned away her eyes.

Still Tory had no sensation of anger, only a kind of nervous fear.
More than any one who ever knew her could have imagined here was a
different Kara!

She now pushed aside the little magazine with a gesture of annoyance.

"I don't want to know what you have been doing at camp, Tory. I never
want to hear any mention of our Girl Scouts again. You must erase my
name from our Patrol list and find some one else to fill my place."

A valiant effort, Tory's to smile, when in the other girl's voice and
manner there was so much to make smiling difficult.

"When that day arrives, Kara, I presume I also shall wish to resign
from the Girl Scouts. It is hard to imagine when we both care so
deeply. Has anyone or anything offended you? Do you feel I am
responsible for your accident? If you realized how many times during
the past week I have wondered if this were true. I did ask Miss Mason
for permission to allow us to go for the day alone. I told her that I
could sketch so much better without any companion save you. She
reproaches herself now as much as I do and says as our Troop Captain
the mistake was hers. But we promised not to go far from camp and were
accustomed to the neighborhood."

"Don't be stupid, Tory. I have not forgotten that I first suggested
the plan to you. We wanted a day to ourselves."

Kara had spoken. At least this much had been accomplished, although
her tone remained hard and uninterested.

Suddenly her head went down until her face was hidden.

"Don't you know, Tory, darling? Has no one told you or the other Girl
Scouts of our Troop? Dr. Mc