Ruth stood up. “I believe I’ll go see her right away,” she announced, “and talk it all over with her.”
Miss Allen received her graciously, and carefully examined the book.
“I would have to look more closely into it,” she said. “And I think I’ll consult Miss Phillips. I have always heard that the Girl Scouts is an organization along athletic lines.”
Ruth was not a favorite with Miss Phillips. She frowned. “Oh, don’t let’s have any teachers in it! Except you,” she added diplomatically.
“But you have to have a Captain—a woman over twenty-one. And I see each troop has thirty-two members, but there are ninety-five girls in the school—how would you decide who was to belong?”
“Why, that’s easy—I started it, so Evelyn and two or three more of our friends would vote on the new members.”
Miss Allen smiled. “You want another sorority, Ruth,” she said. “And that you can’t have. But this Girl Scout idea appeals to me. I’ll think it over, and let you know.”
Miss Allen and Miss Phillips spent the evening in going over the handbook. They were delighted with its contents; the Girl Scout movement seemed to be just the thing the school needed.
“It is my idea,” said Miss Phillips, “to start the troop with only such girls as have 80% or over in their lessons, and are at the same time members or substitutes on one of the school teams. This will give the organization a high standard at the outset, and besides, I think it will make both lessons and athletics more popular. Then, if a girl drops in either, she can be temporarily deprived of the Troop’s good times!”
“Splendid!” exclaimed Miss Allen; “but do you think more than thirty-two girls in the school will qualify?”