Madaline wanted to say something else, but feared to touch on the delicate subject of the little girl's infirmity. So she merely smiled, and said she could find plenty more, and that she was a girl scout doing a little nature work.
"Oh, a girl scout!" exclaimed the little invalid, her eyes fairly blazing enthusiasm.
"Yes," replied Madaline, edging away. "We have a lot of fun being scouts. Good-bye!" and she ran off without affording herself a chance to say anything else.
"Did she take it!" asked Grace unnecessarily.
"Yes, and she just loved it. But I couldn't think what to say, and I said we had fun in being scouts, when I saw she couldn't move for any kind of fun. Wasn't that awful?" wailed Madaline.
"No," the practical Cleo assured her embarrassed companion. "It is always well to speak of scout work. Perhaps she will take an interest in it now. But look! Here comes Hal. Oh, I wonder what news he has!"
The girl in the wheel chair was quickly forgotten with the approach of the boy.
"Oh, he has a letter! See how he wags his head!" exclaimed Grace.
"Yep, I got one!" the boy called, now near enough to make himself heard. "Do I hear the good news?" he inquired, handing over the yellow envelope.
"It's for me!" Grace insisted, making sure of the prize.