This was the beginning and by Friday afternoon Joanne and Winifred were sworn friends, moreover Joanne knew most of the other girls, by name at least, and was in high favor with a number of them, being considered something of a heroine because of her travels and her somewhat unusual experiences.
“Just think,” said Betty Streeter to Esther Rhodes, “she speaks languages, French and Spanish, and she’s been to all sorts of queer places like Hawaii and the West Indies.”
“Yes, but she’s awfully backward in some of her studies; math. and Latin, for example.”
“Yes, but she’s very bright; I heard Miss Hunter say so; she’ll catch up.”
“She looks very delicate.”
“I believe she is, but I heard her say to Miriam Overton that she had always been coddled, carried around in cotton wool, as it were, but that now she was going to join the Girl Scouts and have more outdoor life. That should bring her up if anything can.”
“Perhaps,” returned Esther doubtfully.
It was true enough that Joanne had declared that she intended to become a Girl Scout although as yet, her grandmother’s consent had not been gained. It took a little diplomacy to get this, but Joanne was tactful, and first, by coaxings and cajolings, won her grandfather over to her side, then one day she brought home the rosy Winnie who was certainly a brilliant example of an outdoor girl.
“Of course,” Winnie told Mrs. Selden, “I don’t suppose my robust appearance is all due to scouting, but mother thinks ever so much can be laid to that. I know myself, that I get flabby and lazy and headachy when I stay indoors too much; so do lots of the girls. Why, look at Miriam Overton; she used to have indigestion and couldn’t walk a mile without giving out. Now she’s given up eating so much candy and takes more exercise so she can do a five mile hike with any of us.”
So in the face of these and other arguments Mrs. Selden finally gave in, especially when she learned the character of the girls who comprised Sunflower Troop. However, it was not at once that Joanne was able to attend her first rally, for, being not only a high-strung, nervous young person, she was likewise a very ambitious one who went at her studies with a rush and a determination to be outdone by no one, so that more than once she was kept at home because of headaches which followed fits of weeping when she thought herself unable to keep up with her class, or failed in some of her work. On such occasions her grandfather bore her off to Cousin Ned’s farm from which she returned with renewed confidence and quite ready to start in again with fresh vigor.