“Now it is time to decide upon a name,” announced Miss Phillips.
“A name?” asked Ruth, without rising or saluting. “Can we have Greek letters—or something like that?”
The other girls smiled at her impetuosity, but Miss Phillips hastened to correct the false impression.
“No, not that,” she answered, “but each troop takes the name of a flower—rose, daisy, violet, and so on. And each patrol takes the name of a bird. Suppose some of you suggest the names you would like, and we can vote upon the three most popular.”
Frances suggested “Pansy,” and the girls decided to make it their choice. The selection of the patrol symbol was put off until a later time.
After dues had been discussed and agreed upon, Miss Phillips said, “I would like to suggest that we consider candidates only once a month. It is nearly February now—and we are just starting. It would make too much confusion if we take them in at every meeting. So I think the best plan would be to get the list of those eligible from Miss Allen at the end of each month, and take them in at the following meeting.”
This suggestion was voted upon and passed.
“When shall we have our first hike?” asked the Captain.
Frances Wright rose and saluted Miss Phillips. “Captain,” she said, “let’s wait until we get our uniforms.”
Helen Stewart’s face fell. She was one of the poorest girls in the school—her mother was a widow, and it was about all she could afford to do to pay the regular expenses. Helen did not know how she would ever get her uniform.