Mathilde still carried Lucia’s alpenstock on the way back and used it with great effect. She seemed in a happy mood and the only remark which might have been considered to carry a sting was one made when Betty waxed enthusiastic over hearing a meadow lark. “Oh, listen!” cried Betty. “The birds aren’t all gone yet by any means, and if there isn’t a dear old meadow lark singing in the sunshine!”
Lucia looked interested and followed Betty’s glance, trying to find the bird. But Mathilde laughed. “Oh, yes. Betty Lee’s from the country and knows the birds!”
Betty said nothing, but a junior girl remarked, “Well, then, let me stick to Betty on this hike. We study those things in the Girl Reserve camp. Are you a ‘Girl Reserve,’ Betty?”
“Oh, yes. I joined last year, but I don’t belong to the same group in high school that you do, of course.”
“No. We’ve been watching the fall migration and gathering some of the fall wild flowers for botany class, too.”
“I’d like to do that,” said Lucia. Mathilde tossed her head and looked disgusted, saying something about there being such a “fad for nature study.”
“It’s more than a fad,” said Lucia. “It’s good for you to get outdoors more, and then it helps your country to look after the birds and wild flowers. I don’t know much about your American birds and flowers and trees, but I could learn, perhaps.”
“Oh, that would be lovely, Lucia!” cried Betty. “I don’t know much, but I can tell you a little when we take the hikes. You’d soon get ahead of my small knowledge, though.”
“Girls,” said the junior, “I’m going to have a party Hallowe’en night and I’d love to have you come. I’m getting it up rather suddenly, but there are a few sophomore girls that I want. Will you be one of them?”
“Thank you,” said Lucia. “I will ask Mother.”