Frances smiled appreciatively, but was not silenced.
Mrs. James understood this and said: “What do you want to do beside the helpful profession you are now following?”
“Well, I have been reading the girl scouts’ handbook very carefully and I find several things I might group for my work. Nat would say I was consolidating and merging several lines into one,” laughed Frances, imitating Natalie’s voice and manner.
Mrs. James smiled too, but silently waited to hear more.
“I have planned to try for the test of motorist as given in ‘Scouting for Girls.’ When I have that badge, I will begin to study the birds because I find scores of beautiful and interesting varieties of birds in Westchester. And a man I know down near the village of Bronxville, where Belle and I went last week, told me that one can find rare birds which come North for a short time in summer and stop in the woods about there, but never travel beyond that section. When I heard that I wanted to start finding them and photographing each one I could see.
“Driving about the country so much with Belle on her quests for antiques, I have seen such beautiful bits of scenery and such gorgeous flowers and ferns, as well as birds, that I feel as if I were neglecting a wonderful opportunity when I fail to get pictures of them and study each interesting subject well enough to write it up afterward.”
“Frances you are quite right! I am so glad you think this way, as it shows that you have actually found the great thing your so-called jitney service has done for you. Do you not see that all these discoveries made by you would never have been made if you stayed at Green Hill and raised vegetables or stock? You can strive for and win badges in lines the other girls have not given a thought to. But you can interest them in these pursuits, just as they have interested you in stock and vegetables so that you actually wanted to give up motoring for their studies. Do you see?”
“I think I begin to see a glimmer of the truth,” admitted Frances, her face lighting up with relief.
“And let me add this bit of advice: If every one in this world wanted to do the same thing, what an interesting old place it would be. If every one looked exactly like everyone else, or if all had the same desires and tastes in everything, can you picture a more tiresome place to live on than our earth? But, because everyone has an individual appearance and individual ways and desires, the world is individual, also.”
Belle had crept up behind Mrs. James as she spoke the last words, and now she smiled as she said: “You’re right, Jimmy! I’ve told Frances about the different farm houses I’ve visited in these quests for furniture, and not only the homes, but the furnishings and owners of them are so different from each other!”