“She will be glad of your help,” smiled the registrar, secretly pleased both at Marian’s thoughtful request, and Emmy’s readiness to be of service. Marian was a girl after her own heart. As for Emmy, she marveled at the steady effort toward usefulness that the once indolent French girl was daily putting forth. At no far distant date, she foresaw that both young women could lay just claim to the high office of Torch Bearer.
The session ended in a grand scurrying in all directions to make ready for the hike. Miss Drexal climbed the stairs to the room, which she and Blanche were occupying. She had taken Blanche under her wing for wise reasons of her own. Betty, Anne and Jane shared one room; Emmy, Ruth and Marian another. Sarah and Frances claimed a smaller sleeping chamber at the end of the hall. As there were but four upstairs rooms in the cottage, this had been the only possible arrangement. It was highly satisfactory to all concerned, save Blanche Shirly. Privately, she considered it a cross, rather than an honor, to share a room with Miss Drexal. She would have preferred being with Ruth and Marian. To her, they were the least to be feared of the eight girls. She flattered herself that she could wind them around her finger.
Miss Drexal paused to rap at her own door, which was closed, and waited until Blanche’s indifferent, “Come in” bade her enter. “We have decided to go on a picnic in the woods,” she said. “We shall start as soon as possible. Can you be ready within the next half hour?” Noting that Blanche was still wearing her blue negligee, the registrar saw fit to set a limit to the time of preparation.
Seated at a small desk, and evidently at work on the letter which had formed her excuse for leaving the living room, Blanche swung about in her chair, her glance not entirely friendly. Her tone, however, was plaintively sweet as she said: “I am all tired out from walking so far yesterday. Shall you mind if I don’t go with you to-day? Besides, I really ought to finish this letter to Mamma. She will be so worried until she hears from me.”
“Do just as you think best, Blanche,” Miss Drexal said kindly. “I would be glad to have you go, but shall not urge you to do so, against your own wishes. Martha will be here, so you will have someone in the cottage with you. When the man comes with the trunks, you can send your letter to the village by him. Otherwise, you will have to walk to the nearest house along the Rural Free Delivery Route, three miles from here. If you have other letters to write, I would suggest that you write them, and have them ready for him.”
“Thank you. I believe I will. There are one or two other letters I ought to write. I am going to spend the day getting rested. I am anxious to go bathing in the lake, and take long walks. But I have to be careful not to overdo. I am not very strong.”
“What you need most of all, Blanche, is to begin at once to lead a free, out-door life. A few more hikes, such as yesterday’s, and you will not complain of feeling tired. It should not take you long to complete your elective honors for becoming a Wood Gatherer.”
“Oh, I expect to do that,” emphasized Blanche. “That was one reason I was so glad to come up here.” Blanche neglected to state that it was a minor reason.
“As soon as you have won them, I will call a Council Fire, and initiate you as a Wood Gatherer.” Miss Drexal was determined on one point. Blanche must be offered every chance for self-improvement. The recent scene in the living room had shown her that, thus far, the Camp Fire movement had done little for the arrogant, self-opinionated girl, who had caused her so much annoyance while at Hillside.
“As I am ready for our walk, I will leave you,” she said pleasantly. “I will speak to Martha about luncheon for you. We shall not be back until sundown.”