A few moments after Kara and Tory were together outside the door of the House in the Woods, waiting for the car that was to drive them home.
Above them in a nearly cloudless sky the moon swam, brilliant and serene.
“It was absurd of you, Kara, and so like you to suggest to-night that you were the least worthy member of our Troop of Girl Scouts. You may be a sensible and practical person, Kara, but just the same your humility was ill timed.”
“Don’t, please, Tory. Tease me on any other subject, but not that. I feel my own unworthiness even more deeply, and yet what could I do under the circumstances? Not to have accepted the undeserved honor would have been too ungracious! I seem to have many things bestowed upon me of late that I have no right to possess. Poor Mr. Moore and Lance! Can you imagine how bored they will be by my society?”
Tory shook her head, her eyes dark and soft in the moonlight, her lips red and trembling slightly.
“No, Kara, what you suggest is beyond even my imagination!
“Strange that you should be sailing for Europe and leaving me in Westhaven! Do you remember how we used to talk and dread the opposite thing happening? Then I supposed I would go away and you stay on here. I am sure I should be less missed.”
Kara laughed.
“No, Tory. You are the yeast in our dough. Don’t you realize this? Oh, I suppose I might have thought of a prettier figure of speech for you, but not a truer one. You have wakened us all, and brought us beauty and ways of thinking and living we would not have had in Westhaven without you.
“Now for a little while we must say good-by; but wait for me here, won’t you, Tory.”