But the girls were clamoring for their own birth flowers, so that Miss Mason’s words were lost. Mrs. Tompkins replied to most of the requests for the names and meanings of the various natal flowers, and the scouts heard that June the fifth had Verbena for its flower and its meaning was “discretion.” The Crocus for March seventh meant cheerfulness. The Canterbury Bell in August stood for gratitude. And the April Violet meant modesty. One of the scouts heard that the snapdragon meant presumption but she was the most retiring one of all the Patrol, so this called out a general laugh at her expense. Then Frances was told that her flower was the proud and disdainful sunflower and again the scouts laughed heartily for they declared that the flower dictionary was wrong. Frances should have had the fuchsia instead, which means “mad ambition.”
Two hours had passed in this interesting form of story-telling and now Mrs. Tompkins said she must be starting back home or her husband would send out the secret detective force of Four Corners to locate her.
The very idea of Four Corners having any such force made the scouts laugh gayly, but Miss Mason said anxiously: “Oh, you must not think of leaving the scout gathering until we have had our refreshments, Mrs. Tompkins.”
This part of the programme was unexpected by Patrol Two, but nevertheless very acceptable. Short shrift was made of the cakes baked by the scouts that morning; and the birch lemonade concocted from the essence distilled from macerated birch, made a delicious drink.
As the scouts of Patrol Number Two left camp and started for the house, one of the members of Patrol One called out: “Don’t forget the celebration on the sixteenth! We’ve got to get together very soon and plan for it.”
And Natalie, speaking for her scouts, called back: “No, we won’t forget!”
CHAPTER VII
THE ROCK AND WATER GARDEN.
Late that afternoon, when the girls were engaged with their various pursuits, Norma called Mrs. James to join her over at the rail fence. Here the two paced off the strip of ground and tied strings on the rails opposite which they planned to plant the wild berry and flower bushes from the woods.
This done, Norma said: “Now let’s go over to the barn yard and decide where to plant the sun flowers and other bushes from the woods.”
This was finally done, also, and then Mrs. James walked slowly from the barn to the edge of the tiny brook that ran all along the edge of the barn yard and found its outlet in the woodland stream. Norma followed, wondering why her companion paused so often to study the environment and why she turned to allow her eyes to rove over the rivulet and its weedy sides.