“Patience! They’ll have to wait now, and learn the lesson you girls have finished before they can join this Patrol. Why, I wonder if you realize how high you have climbed on the rungs of the ladder of Scout Ideals during these past few weeks?” said Mrs. Vernon.
“I can’t see any change,” said Joan.
“What! don’t you think your friends here have improved any whatsoever since we decided to begin a Troop?”
“Oh—the girls have—a little, but I haven’t!”
“You have, too, but you don’t see it yet. Wait.”
“All the same, Verny, tell us when we can start?” begged Julie.
“Well, Mr. Vernon sails for his European trip on Monday, so I see nothing to keep us home after that. Can you all be ready to go on Tuesday morning?”
“You know we can—why ask?” laughed Julie.
“Maybe you’d prefer us to start Monday afternoon after you come home from the steamer,” suggested Ruth.
Mrs. Vernon laughed. “Hardly as soon as that.”