“Where did you receive the impression, Tante, that friendship between girls and men has ever been an influence for peace? So far I have not seen a great deal of the world, but I think it has more often been an occasion for war. However, you may know best!”
Sally’s unexpected rejoinder had the effect of a thunderbolt launched from a clear sky into a sun warmed atmosphere.
There was only one way to receive so ill tempered a speech. Mrs. Burton laughed, the girls following her example.
Of late Sally had been so unreasonably bad tempered, so nervous and irritable, that, having made up their minds, either that she was ill, or else seriously troubled, the Camp Fire girls had refused to pay any special attention to her rapidly changing moods.
Moreover, Sally had never made a pretence of wholly forgiving them for their suspicion of her during the time she was nursing Lieutenant Fleury back to health.[3]
In spite of Lieutenant Fleury’s appreciation of Sally’s kindness and self sacrifice, never afterwards had she and his sister, Yvonne Fleury, become intimate friends.
“Well, Sally, I was far from suggesting that any one of you girls develop a romantic friendship in the next few weeks. Difficulties only develop when romance creeps in.
“I think one marriage, Gerry Williams to Felipe Morris, and also Peggy’s and Ralph’s engagement is a sufficient supply of romance for our Camp Fire for some time to come! I am hoping Gerry and Felipe may join us when Felipe is finally discharged from the army. Gerry writes they intend returning to California and will make their home at their ranch near the spot where we spent our summer together ‘Behind the Lines.’”
Purposely Mrs. Burton had changed the subject of her conversation from a Camp Fire discussion to one which she hoped might be of personal interest to Sally Ashton. After her sarcastic little speech, Sally had flushed uncomfortably, as if sorry she had spoken, and Gerry Williams had been the only one of the Camp Fire girls for whom Sally had ever displayed any particular affection.
At present Mrs. Burton was more unhappy over Sally than she had dreamed possible, having always taken it for granted that Sally would be one of the persons who would accept life in an indolent, slightly selfish fashion, without much trouble either to herself or to other people.