Then, as Marie flounced off in a temper, Mrs. Burton laughed and sighed.
Although accustomed to having thousands of eyes fixed upon her while she was acting, Polly had become embarrassed by the critical survey of two pair which were at present across from her. They belonged to her own Camp Fire group—Esther’s and Dick Ashton’s older daughter Alice, and Ellen Deal, the young woman Sylvia Wharton had more or less thrust upon the party.
Ellen was from a small town in Pennsylvania, but with her small, neat figure, high color and sandy hair, she might have come from a real English village in Yorkshire or Lancashire. She was older than the other girls and had already showed a decided fancy for Alice Ashton. Mrs. Burton fancied that she disapproved of her and would not try to conceal her point of view. She might really be too blunt to make for happiness in a Camp Fire club.
Alice Ashton was a typical Boston girl. She was like her mother in appearance, except that her hair was a darker red, and she was handsomer than her mother had ever been. She wore glasses and was a graduate of Wellesley College. In accepting the Camp Fire invitation Alice had frankly stated that she wished to make an especial study of Arizona Indian customs for her English work the following year.
But she had not seen her mother’s old friend since she was a little girl and, in Alice’s case, Polly also felt she had proved a disappointment.
It was natural that Alice should expect a famous actress to be impressive in manner and appearance, and Polly Burton was neither—of which she was well aware. She was very slight and vivid and not always sure of herself or her moods. Really Alice gave her the feeling that she should resign at once as Camp Fire guardian and let Alice reign in her place. She would probably fill it far better.
But Sally Ashton was different, and Mrs. Burton felt that one might get amusement if not edification out of Sally. The very name of Sally was an encouragement to do or say something saucy. And this Sally had large, soft brown eyes and wavy hair and little white, even teeth. If her expression was at present demure, one could see possibilities behind the demureness.
In order not to think of herself as under a critical survey, Mrs. Burton continued studying her new group of girls.
Sally was at the moment talking to the girl whom she had invited and who had joined the party with her at Chicago. If Gerry Williams’ history was so unusual that it might be best not to confide her story to the Camp Fire girls until they knew each other better, at least Mrs. Burton was happy in the choice of her. She was so pretty and charming and seemed to have so many possibilities if only she could have the proper influences.
Gerry was about sixteen and slender, with lovely light hair, blue eyes, and with almost too much color in her cheeks. Fortunately she had once been a member of a Camp Fire club in Chicago and so knew of their methods and ideals.