“I was, until this cousin of mine”–she playfully tapped Marcia on the shoulder–“made me change my plans. I’ll have you to understand that you’re not the only girl who can be a Camp Fire Guardian, Eleanor Mercer!”
“Well,” gasped Eleanor, “of all things! Do you mean that you’ve organized a new Camp Fire?”
“We certainly have–the Halsted Camp Fire, if you please! We’re not really all in yet, but we’ve got permission now from the National Council, and the girls are to get their rings to-night at our first ceremonial camp fire. Won’t you girls come over and help us?”
“I should say we would!” said Eleanor. “Why, this is fine, Mary! Tell me how it happened, won’t you?”
“It’s all your fault–you must know that. The girls have told me all about the horrid way they acted at Lake Dean, but really, you can’t blame them so much, can you, Nell? It’s the way they’re brought up–and, well, you went to the school, too, just as I did!”
“I know what you mean,” said Eleanor. “It’s a fine school, but–”
“That’s it exactly–that but. The school has got into bad ways, and these girls were in a fair way to be snobs. Well, Marcia and some of the others got to thinking things over, and they decided that if the Camp Fire had done so much for Dolly Ransom and a lot of your girls, it would be a good thing for them, too.”
“They’re perfectly right, Mary. Oh, I’m ever so glad!”
“So they came to me, and asked me if I wouldn’t be their Guardian. I didn’t want to at first–and then I was afraid I wouldn’t be any good. But I promised to talk to Mrs. Chester, and get her to suggest someone who would do, and–”
“You needn’t tell me the rest,” laughed Eleanor. “I know just what happened. Mrs. Chester just talked to you in that sweet, gentle way of hers, and the first thing you knew you felt about as small as a pint of peanuts, and as if refusing to do the work would be about as mean as stealing sheep. Now, didn’t you?”