The tassels of the maple flowers.”
Polly recited Whittier’s verse with a wistful inflection in her voice that made her companion turn from looking at the scenery to gaze at her.
“Don’t make a cheerful poem sound like a lament for all the lost springs in the world, Polly darlint,” Betty Graham pleaded. “I declare you become more of a fascinator the older you grow. But I suppose that is a part of your genius. Funny we didn’t know you were a genius in the old Sunrise Hill Camp Fire days, and only thought you were ‘fee’ as the Irish say. Queer there is another Camp Fire organization of girls now, with our old title and with Mollie Webster for their guardian! Ah well, times do change, though I know that is not an original remark.”
Polly laughed. The two friends were cantering along side by side through a lane in the New Hampshire woods. They were on their way to see the old cabin where long ago they had lived and worked together with nearly a dozen other girls for a happy year.
The riding was difficult because the road was still muddy from spring rains, but Polly rode frequently in Central Park when she happened to be in New York City and Betty, in an effort to keep her figure, had daily horseback exercise in Washington. At present they were actually paying more attention to each other’s conversation than to their horses.
“And here I am adopting some of Mollie’s Camp Fire responsibilities without being half so well equal to them as she is. Do you think my scheme of taking a few of her Camp Fire girls and some of my own to camp on the edge of the Painted Desert with me a mad scheme, Betty? Of course, I have to see the girls first and choose the ones I wish and then argue the matter with their parents. You and Anthony are going to allow me to have Bettina?”
Involuntarily both women had slowed down their horses.
“We cannot help it very well, Polly,” Mrs. Graham replied. “Bettina has thought of nothing else and dreamed of nothing else since you first wrote of your plan to her and to Polly—oh, to Peggy, I mean. I do hate this business of two persons in one family having the same name. We have had trouble enough with the difficulty in our own family. Bettina has even written some charming verses about the desert, which she showed to me the night of my arrival.
“But I am afraid I shall never have any more influence over my daughter after she has been with you, dear. Truth is, Bettina and I adore each other but are not in the least alike. And Anthony says I must give Bettina the chance to do the thing she believes she would love. She does not care in the least for society or many people, and it is so hard for me to understand,” Betty Graham ended wistfully.
But in return her beloved friend only laughed. “Nonsense, Betty; we are not all born beauties and belles, as you were. Oh, yes, I do think your Bettina is very pretty, so don’t get your mother bird feathers ruffled. But I don’t think ‘the little Princess’ is the beauty her mother was and is.” Then seriously, “Of course I shall do my best to look after your daughter, Betty dear, if anything should—” she hesitated.