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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38152-8.txt b/38152-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..103b10a --- /dev/null +++ b/38152-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4974 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl Scouts Rally, by Katherine Keene Galt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Scouts Rally + Rosanna Wins + +Author: Katherine Keene Galt + +Release Date: November 27, 2011 [EBook #38152] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + + + + + +[Illustration: "So you want me to come to your show, do you?" said Mr. +Harriman.] + + + + +_Girl Scouts Series, Volume 2_ + +THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY + +or + +ROSANNA WINS + +BY + +Katherine Keene Galt + +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + +CHICAGO--AKRON, OHIO--NEW YORK + +MADE IN U. S. A. + + + + +Copyright, 1921, by + +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + +THE GIRL SCOUTS SERIES + 1 THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME + 2 THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY + 3 THE GIRL SCOUT'S TRIUMPH + + + + +THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Three little girls sat in a row on the top step of a beautiful home in +Louisville. At the right was a dark-haired, fairylike child on whose +docked hair a velvet berét, or French officer's cap, sat jauntily. Her +dark eyes were round and thoughtful as she gazed into space. There was a +little wrinkle between her curved black brows. + +Beside her, busily knitting on a long red scarf, sat a sparkling little +girl whose hazel eyes danced under a fringe of blond curls. Her dainty +motions and her pretty way of tossing back her beautiful hair caused +people to stop and look at her as they passed, but Elise was all +unconscious of their admiration. Indeed, she was almost too shy, and few +knew how full of fun and laughter she could be. + +The third girl wore a businesslike beaver hat over her blond docked +hair, and her great eyes, blue and steady, were levelled across Elise, +who knitted on in silence, to the dark girl in the velvet cap. + +Helen Culver spoke at last. "Well, Rosanna, what are you thinking? Have +you any plan at all?" + +The dark child spoke. "No, Helen, I can't think of a thing. It makes me +_so_ provoked!" + +"Tell me, will you not?" asked Elise in her pretty broken English. She +was trying so hard to speak like Rosanna and Helen that she could +scarcely be prevailed upon to say anything in French. + +Many months had passed since Elise, in the care of the kind ladies of +the American Red Cross, had come over from France to her adopted +guardian, young Mr. Horton. She had grown to be quite American during +that time, and was very proud of her attainments. The dark and dreadful +past was indeed far behind, and while she sometimes wept for her dear +grandmother, who had died in Mr. Horton's tender arms in the old château +at home, she loved her foster mother, Mrs. Hargrave, with all her heart. +And with Elise laughing and dancing through it, the great old Hargrave +house was changed indeed. While Elise was crossing the ocean, Mrs. +Hargrave had fitted up three rooms for her. There was a sitting-room, +that was like the sunny outdoors, with its dainty flowered chintzes, its +ivory wicker furniture, its plants and canaries singing in wicker cages. +Then there was a bedroom that simply put you to sleep just to look at +it: all blue and silver, like a summer evening. Nothing sang here, but +there was a big music box, old as Mrs. Hargrave herself, that tinkled +Elise to sleep if she so wished. And the bathroom was papered so that +you didn't look at uninteresting tiles set like blocks when you splashed +around in the tub. No; there seemed to be miles and miles of sunny +sea-beach with little shells lying on the wet sand and sea gulls +swinging overhead. + +Mrs. Hargrave was so delighted with all this when it was finished that +it made her discontented with her own sitting-room with its dim old +hangings and walnut furniture. + +"No wonder I was beginning to grow old," she said to her life-long +friend, Mrs. Horton. "No wonder at all! All this dismal old stuff is +going up in the attic. I shall bring down my great great-grandmother's +mahogany and have all my wicker furniture cushioned with parrots and +roses." + +"It sounds dreadful," said Mrs. Horton. + +"It won't be," retorted her friend. "It will be perfectly lovely. Did +you know that I can play the piano? I can, and well. I had forgotten it. +I am going to have birds too--not canaries, but four cunning little +green love-birds. They are going to have all that bay window for +themselves. And I shall have a quarter grand piano put right there." + +"I do think you are foolish," said Mrs. Horton, who was a cautious +person. "What if this child turns out to be a failure? All you have is +my son's word for it, and what does a boy twenty-four years old know +about little girls? You ought to wait and see what sort of a child she +is." + +"I have faith, my dear," said her friend. "I have been so lonely for so +many long years that I feel sure that at last the good Lord is going to +send me a real little daughter." + +"Cross-eyed perhaps and with a frightful disposition," said Mrs. Horton. +"All children look like angels to Robert." + +Mrs. Hargrave was plucky. "Very well, then; I can afford to have her +eyes straightened, and I will see what I can do about the temper." + +"I won't tease you any more," said Mrs. Horton. "Robert says the child +is charming and good as gold. I know you will be happy with her, and if +you find that she is too much of a care for you, you can simply throw +her right back on Robert's hands. I don't like to have him feel that he +has no responsibility in the matter." + +Elise proved to be all that Mrs. Hargrave had dreamed, and more. She +sang like a bird and Mrs. Hargrave found her old skill returning as she +played accompaniments or taught Elise to play on the pretty piano. And +the little girl, who was perfectly happy, repaid her over and over in +love and a thousand sweet and pretty attentions. Dear Mrs. Hargrave, who +had been so lonely that she had not cared particularly whether she lived +or died, found herself wishing for many years of life. + +The three little girls, Elise, Rosanna, of whom you have perhaps read, +and her friend Helen Culver were great friends. + +They went to school and studied and played together, and Rosanna and +Helen were both Girl Scouts. Elise was to join too, as soon as she could +qualify. At present, as Uncle Robert said slangily, she was "stuck on +pie." She could not make a crust that could be cut or even _sawed_ apart +although she tried to do so with all the earnestness in the world. + +Perhaps you girls who are reading this remember Rosanna. If so, you will +be glad to know that she grew well and strong again after her accident +and continued to be a very happy little girl who was devoted to her +grandmother, who in turn was devoted to Rosanna. The beautiful hair that +Rosanna had cut off was allowed to stay docked, and that was a great +relief to Rosanna, who was always worried by the weight of the long +curls that hung over her shoulders like a dark glistening cape. It +seemed _such_ fun to be able to shake her head like a pony and send the +short, thick mane flying now that it was cut off. + +There were three people in Rosanna's home: her stately grandmother Mrs. +Horton, Uncle Robert, of whom you have heard, and Rosanna herself. +Rosanna had had a maid, of whom she was very fond, but Minnie was at +home preparing to marry the young man to whom she had been engaged all +through the war. He was at home again, and together they were fitting +out a cunning little bungalow in the Highlands. As soon as everything +was arranged quite to their satisfaction, they were going to be married, +and Minnie vowed that she could never get married unless she could have +a real wedding with bridesmaids and all, and she had a scheme! By the +way she rolled her eyes and her young man chuckled, it seemed as though +it must be a very wonderful scheme indeed, but although all three girls +hung around her neck and teased, not another word would she say. Minnie +had two little sisters who were about the ages of Rosanna and Elise and +Helen, but they did not know what the scheme was either. It was _very_ +trying. + +Helen Culver no longer lived over Mrs. Horton's garage and her father no +longer drove the Horton cars, but her home was very near in a dear +little apartment as sweet and clean and dainty as it could be. Mr. +Culver and Uncle Robert were often together and did a good deal of +figuring and drawing but other than guessing that it was something to do +with Uncle Robert's business, the children did not trouble their heads. + +Helen was ahead of Rosanna in school. She had had a better chance to +start with, as Rosanna had only had private teachers and so had had no +reason to strive to forge ahead. There had been no one to get ahead +_of_! Now, however, she was studying to such good purpose that she hoped +soon to overtake Helen. But it was a hard task, because Helen was a very +bright little girl who could and would and _did_ put her best effort in +everything she did. + +These, then, were the three little girls who sat on Rosanna's doorstep +and smelled the burning leaves and enjoyed the beautiful fall day. + +"Rosanna is so good at making plans," said Helen, smiling over at her +friend. + +"What shall your good plan be for?" asked Elise. + +"Don't you remember, Elise, our telling you about the picnic we had +once, and the children who took supper with us?" + +"Oh, _oui_--yess, yess!" said Elise, correcting herself hastily. + +"And we told you how we took them home and saw poor Gwenny, their +sister, who is so lame that she cannot walk at all, and is so good and +patient about it? We mean to take you over to see her, now that you can +speak English so nicely. She wants to see you so much." + +"I would be charm to go," declared Elise, nodding her curly head. + +"Well," continued Rosanna, "Gwenny's mother says that Gwenny could be +cured, but that it would cost more than she could ever pay, and it is +nothing that she could get done at the free dispensaries. Those are +places where very, very poor people can go and get good doctors and +nurses and advice without paying anything at all, but Gwenny could not +go there. + +"She would have to go to a big hospital in Cincinnati and stay for a +long while. I thought about asking my grandmother if she would like to +send Gwenny there, but just as I was going to speak of it last night, +she commenced to talk to Uncle Robert about money, and I heard her tell +him that she was never so hard up in her life, and what with the Liberty +Loan drives taking all her surplus out of the banks, and the high rate +of taxes, she didn't know what she was going to do. So I couldn't say a +thing." + +"The same with ma maman," said Elise. "She calls those same taxes +robbers. So you make the plan?" + +"That's just it: I _don't_," said Rosanna ruefully. "I wish I could +think up some way to earn money, a lot of it ourselves." + +"Let's do it!" said Helen in her brisk, decided way. + +"But _how_?" questioned Rosanna. "It will take such a lot of money, +Helen. Hundreds and hundreds of dollars, maybe _thousands_." + +"I should think the thing to do would be to ask a doctor exactly how +much it would cost, first of all," said the practical Helen. + +"Another thing," said Rosanna, "Gwenny's family is very proud. They +don't like to feel that people are taking care of them. The Associated +Charities gave Gwenny a chair once, so she could wheel herself around, +but it made them feel badly, although Gwenny's mother said she knew that +it was the right thing to accept it." + +"She will feel that it is the thing to do if we can pay to have Gwenny +cured too," said Helen. "You know how sensible she is, Rosanna. She must +realize that everybody knows that she does all she can in this world for +her family. I heard mother say she never saw any woman work so hard to +keep a home for her children. + +"Mother says she never rests. And she is not trained, you know, to do +special work like typewriting, or anything that is well paid, so she has +to be a practical nurse and things like that." + +"Aren't all nurses practical?" asked Rosanna, a frown of perplexity on +her brow. + +"Trained nurses are not," replied Helen. "Trained nurses get thirty and +forty dollars a week and a practical nurse gets seven or eight, and +works harder. But you see she never had a chance to get trained. It +takes a long time, like going to school and graduating, only you go to +the hospital instead." + +"I know," said Rosanna. "There were what they called undergraduate +nurses at the Norton Infirmary and they wore a different uniform. But +they were all pretty, and so good to me." + +"Well, you can't do much on what Gwenny's mother makes," said Helen. + +Elise sighed. "It is so sad," she declared. "Do the robber Taxes attack +her also?" + +"No; she has nothing to attack," laughed Helen. + +"Is Mees Gwenny a Girl Scout?" asked Elise. + +"No, but her sister Mary is. She went in about the time Rosanna joined, +but she does not belong to our group. They live in another part of the +city." + +"Will my allowance help?" asked Elise. "I will give it so gladly. Ma +maman is so good, so generous! I never can spend the half. I save it to +help a little French child, but surely if Mees Gwenny is your dear +friend and she suffers----" + +"She suffers all right," declared Helen. "Oh, Rosanna, we have _got_ to +think up some way to help her! I am going to ask mother." + +"Helen, do you remember what our Captain said at the very last meeting? +No, you were not there; I remember now. She said that we must learn to +act for ourselves and not forever be asking help from our families. She +said that we should always consult them before we made any important +move, but she wanted us to learn to use our own brains. Now it does look +to me as though this was a time to use all the brains we have. Think how +wonderful it would be if we could only do this ourselves!" + +"What do you mean by _we_? Just us three, or the Girl Scouts in our +group?" asked Helen. + +"I don't know," said Rosanna dismally. "I really haven't the first idea! +Let's all think." + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Three in a row, they sat and thought while the leaf piles smouldered and +the afternoon went by. Plan after plan was offered and discussed and +cast aside. At last Elise glanced at her little silver wrist watch, and +wound up her scarf. + +"Time for maman to come home," she said. "She likes it when I meet her +at the door with my love, and myself likes it too." + +"Of course you do, you dear!" said Helen. "Good-bye! We will keep on +thinking and perhaps tomorrow we will be able to get hold of some plan +that will be worth acting on. I must go too, Rosanna." + +"I will walk around the block with you," said Rosanna, rising and +calling a gay good-bye after Elise. She went with Helen almost to the +door of her apartment and then returned very slowly. How she did long to +help Gwenny! There must be some way. Poor patient, uncomplaining Gwenny! +Rosanna could not think of her at all without an ache in her heart. She +was so thin and her young face had so many, _many_ lines of pain. + +She was so thoughtful at dinner time that her Uncle Robert teased her +about it. He wanted to know if she had robbed a bank or had decided to +run off and get married and so many silly things that his mother told +him to leave Rosanna alone. Rosanna smiled and simply went on thinking. +After dinner she slipped away and went up to her own sitting-room. Then +Uncle Robert commenced to worry in earnest. He had his hat in his hand +ready to go over and see Mr. Culver, but he put it down again and went +up to Rosanna's room, three steps at a time. + +Rosanna called "Come," in answer to his knock in quite her usual tone of +voice, and Uncle Robert heaved a sigh of relief. + +He stuck his head in the door, and said in a meek tone: "I thought I +would come up to call on you, Princess. Mother is expecting a bridge +party, and it is no place for me." + +"That is what I thought," said Rosanna. "Besides I wanted to think." + +"Well, I am known as a hard thinker myself," said Uncle Robert. "If you +will invite the part of me that is out here in the hall to follow my +head, I will be glad to help you if I can." + +"I don't see why I shouldn't tell you about things anyway," mused +Rosanna. "You are not a parent, are you?" + +"No, ma'am, I am _not_," said Uncle Robert. "Nary a parent! Why?" + +He came in without a further invitation and sat down in Rosanna's +biggest chair. At that it squeaked in an alarming manner, and Uncle +Robert made remarks about furniture that wouldn't hold up a growing boy +like himself. When he appeared to be all settled and comfortable, and +Rosanna had shoved an ash tray over in a manner that Uncle Robert said +made him feel like an old married man, he said, "Now fire ahead!" and +Rosanna did. + +She told him all about Gwenny and her family--her mother and Mary and +selfish Tommy, and good little Myron, and Luella and the heavy baby, and +the story was so well told that Uncle Robert had hard work holding +himself down. He felt as though the check book in his pocket was all +full of prickers which were sticking into him, and in another pocket a +bank book with a big, big deposit, put in it that very day, kept +shouting, "Take care of Gwenny yourself!" so loudly that he was sure +Rosanna must hear. + +But Uncle Robert knew that that was not the thing for him to do. He +could not take all the beauty and generosity out of their effort when +their dear little hearts were so eagerly trying to find a way to help. + +He hushed the bank book up as best he could and said to Rosanna, "I +don't worry a minute about this thing, Rosanna. I know perfectly well +that you will think up some wonderful plan that will bring you wads of +money, and as long as I am _not_ a parent, I don't see why I can't be +your councillor. There might be things that I could attend to. I could +take the tickets at the door or something like that." + +"Tickets!" said Rosanna, quite horrified. "Why, Uncle Bob, we can't give +a _show_!" + +"I don't see why not, if you know what you want to show," answered Uncle +Robert. "You see benefit performances given all the time for singers and +pianists and actors who want to retire with a good income. Some of them +have one every year, but you couldn't do that for Gwenny. However I'll +stand by whenever you want me, you may feel sure of that, and if I can +advance anything in the way of a little money--" he tapped the bank +book, which jumped with joy. + +"Oh, thank you!" said Rosanna. "We will be sure to tell you as soon as +we can hit on a plan, and we will have you to go to for advice, and that +will be such a help!" + +After Uncle Bob had taken himself off, Rosanna went slowly to bed. She +thought while she was undressing and after she had put out the light and +was waiting for her grandmother to come in and kiss her good-night. And +the last thing before she dropped off to sleep her mind was whirling +with all sorts of wild ideas, but not one seemed to be just what was +wanted. One thing seemed to grow clearer and bigger and stronger, and +that was the feeling that Gwenny must be helped. + +The first thing that she and Helen asked each other the next day when +they met on the way to school was like a chorus. They both said, "Did +you think of anything?" and neither one had. + +Sad to relate, neither Rosanna nor Helen made brilliant recitations that +day, and coming home from school Helen said gravely, "What marks did you +get today, Rosanna?" + +"Seventy," answered Rosanna with a flush. + +"I got seventy-two, and it was a review. Oh dear, this won't do at all! +I was thinking about Gwenny, and trying to work up a plan so hard that I +just couldn't study. Either we have positively got to think up something +right away, or else we will have to make up our minds that we must do +our thinking on Saturdays only. Can't you think of a single thing?" + +"I seem to have glimmers of an idea," said Rosanna, "but not very bright +ones." + +"All I can think of is to get all the girls in our group to make fancy +things and have a fair." + +"That is not bad," said Rosanna, "but would we make enough to count for +much? Even if all the girls in our group should go to work and work +every single night after school we would not be able to make enough +fancy articles to make a whole sale." + +"I suppose not," sighed Helen. "This is Thursday. If we can't think of +something between now and Saturday afternoon, let's tell the girls about +it at the meeting and see what they suggest, and ask if they would like +to help Gwenny. But oh, I wish we could be the ones to think up +something! You see Gwenny sort of belongs to us, and I feel as though we +ought to do the most of the work." + +That night at dinner there was a guest at Rosanna's house, young Doctor +MacLaren, who had been in service with Uncle Robert. Rosanna quite lost +her heart to him, he was so quiet and so gentle and smiled so sweetly at +her grandmother. She sat still as a mouse all through the meal, +listening and thinking. + +After dinner when they had all wandered into the lovely old library that +smelled of books, she sat on the arm of her Uncle Robert's chair, and +while her grandmother was showing some pictures to the doctor, she +whispered to her uncle, "Don't you suppose the doctor could tell us how +much it would cost to cure Gwenny?" + +"You tickle my ear!" he said, and bit Rosanna's. + +"Behave!" said Rosanna sternly. "Don't you suppose he could?" + +"I am sure he could, sweetness, but I sort o' think he would have to see +Gwenny first. Shall we ask him about it?" + +"Oh, please let's!" begged Rosanna. + +"Th' deed is did!" said Uncle Robert, and as soon as he could break into +the conversation, he said: "Rick, Rosanna and I want to consult you." + +Rosanna squeezed his hand for that; it was so much nicer than to put it +all off on her. + +Doctor MacLaren laughed his nice, friendly laugh. "Well, if you are both +in some scheme, I should say it was time for honest fellows like me to +be careful. Let's hear what it is." + +"You tell, Rosanna," said Uncle Robert. "I can't talk and smoke all at +the same time." + +So Rosanna, very brave because of Uncle Robert's strong arm around her, +commenced at the beginning and told all about Gwenny and her family, and +her bravery in bearing the burden of her lameness and ill health. And +she went on to tell him about the Girl Scouts and all the good they do, +and that she was sure that they would help, but they (she and Helen) +hated to put it before the meeting unless they had some idea of the +amount of money it would be necessary for them to earn. And another +thing; what if they should start to get the money, and couldn't? What a +_dreadful_ disappointment it would be for Gwenny and indeed all the +family down to Baby Christopher! + +The two young men heard her out. Then Uncle Robert said: + +"I don't know the exact reason, but it seems that you cannot work with +these Girl Scouts if you are a parent. Are you a parent, Rick?" + +"Please don't tease, Uncle Bobby," said Rosanna pleadingly. "It is only +that we Scout girls are supposed to try to do things ourselves without +expecting all sorts of help from our mothers and fathers--and +grandmothers and uncles," she added rather pitifully. + +Robert patted her hand. Rosanna was an orphan. + +"I see now how it is," he said. "Tell us, Rick, what you think about +this." + +"I think that Saturday morning, when there is no school, Rosanna might +take me to call on Miss Gwenny and we will see about what the trouble +is. And I think as she does, that it would be very wise to say nothing +at all about this plan until we know something about the case. It would +be cruel to get the child's hopes up for nothing. If there is anything +that I dare do, I will promise you now that I will gladly do it, but I +cannot tell until I see her." + +"Thank you ever and ever so much!" said Rosanna. "We won't tell anyone a +thing about it!" + +"Can you drive over to Gwenny's tomorrow and tell her mother that a +doctor friend of mine is coming to see her?" asked Uncle Robert. + +"Indeed I can if grandmother is willing!" said Rosanna. "Oh, I _do_ feel +as though we will think up some way of earning the money!" + +Rosanna was so happy that she overslept next morning and was nearly late +getting to school, so she did not see Helen until they were dismissed. +They walked slowly home and sat down on their favorite place on the top +step. They had been sitting quietly, watching a group of children +playing in the leaves, when Rosanna jumped to her feet and commenced to +dance up and down. + +"Oh, Helen, Helen," she cried. "I believe I have it! I believe I have +it! Oh, I am _so_ excited!" + +"Well, do tell me!" exclaimed Helen. + +"That is just what I am going to do," said Rosanna, still dancing. +"Let's go around in the garden and sit in the rose arbor where no one +will disturb us." + +"That is the thing to do," agreed Helen, and together they went skipping +through the iron gateway that led into the lovely old garden. Once upon +a time that gate had been kept locked and little Rosanna had been almost +a prisoner among the flowers and trees that made the garden so lovely. +But now the gate swung on well-oiled hinges and all the little Girl +Scouts were welcome to come and play with Rosanna in her playhouse or +ride her fat little pony around the gravelled paths. + +The children banged the gate shut behind them and went to the most +sheltered spot in the garden, the rose arbor, where they were hidden +from view. They threw their school books on the rustic table and settled +themselves in two big chairs. + +"Now _do go on_," said Helen with a little thrill in her voice. "Oh, I +_do_ feel that you have thought up something splendid!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +"I have been thinking and thinking," said Rosanna, "and not an idea have +I had until just now. Here is what I just thought up. + +"You know Uncle Bob was telling me about benefit performances that +actors and musicians have. I think they get them up themselves mostly, +when they want some money, but I was talking to Minnie about it +yesterday when she came in for a minute and she says in her church they +have benefits all the time. People sing and play and recite poetry, and +it is lovely. And I thought up something better still. + +"What if you and I, Helen, could make up a sort of play all about the +Girl Scouts and give it?" + +"Write it out of our heads?" said Helen, quite aghast. + +"Yes," said Rosanna. "It is easy. Before grandmother used to let me have +little girls to play with, I used to make up plays, oh lots of times!" + +"With conversations?" pressed Helen. + +"Yes, made up of conversations and coming on the stage and going off +again, and people dying, and everything." + +"Dear me!" said Helen with the air of one who never suspected such a +thing of a friend. "_Dear me!_" she said again. "I am sure I could +_never_ do it. You will have to do it yourself. What is it going to be +about?" + +"Why, I have to have time to think," said Rosanna. "You have to think a +long time when you are going to be an author. It is very difficult." + +"You don't suppose you are all out of practice, do you?" asked Helen +anxiously. "Why, Rosanna, that would be too perfectly splendid! A real +play! Where could we give it? We couldn't rent a real theatre." + +"Oh, my, no!" said Rosanna, beginning to be rather frightened at the +picture Helen was conjuring up. "We won't have that sort of a play. We +will have a little one that we can give in grandmother's parlor, or over +at Mrs. Hargrave's." + +"I wouldn't," said Helen stoutly. "I just know you can write a beautiful +play, Rosanna, and I think we ought to give it in some big place where a +lot of people can come, and we will have tickets, and chairs all in rows +and a curtain and everything." + +"Oh, I don't believe I could write a good enough play for all that," +cried Rosanna. + +"Well, just do the best you can and I know it will be perfectly lovely." + +"I tell you what," said Rosanna, beginning to be sorry that she had +spoken. "Please don't tell Elise or anyone about it until I see what I +can write, and then after you and I have read it, if it is good enough, +we will show it to Uncle Robert and see what he says." + +"It _will_ be good enough," said Helen positively. "Just think of the +piece of poetry you wrote to read at the Girl Scout meeting. It was so +lovely that I 'most cried. All that part about the new moon, and how you +felt when you died. It sounded so true, and yet I don't see how you know +how you are going to feel when you die. I can't feel it at all. I +suppose that is because you are a poet. Mother says it is a great and +beautiful thing to be a poet, but that you must look out for your +digestion." + +"My digestion is all right so far," said Rosanna. "I am glad to know +that, though, because if your mother says so, it must be so." + +"Of course!" said Helen proudly. "When will you begin your play, +Rosanna?" + +"Right away after dinner," said Rosanna. "That is, if Uncle Robert goes +out. If he stays at home I will have to play cribbage with him. If I go +off to my own room, he comes right up. He says he is afraid that I will +get to nursing a secret sorrow." + +"What is a secret sorrow?" asked Helen. + +"I don't know exactly," said Rosanna. "Uncle Robert looked sort of funny +when I asked him, and perhaps he made it up because he just said, +'Why--er, why--er, a secret sorrow is--don't you know what it is, +Rosanna?'" + +"Sometimes I wonder if your Uncle Robert really means all he says," said +Helen suspiciously. + +"I wonder too," agreed Rosanna, nodding, "but he is a perfect dear, +anyway, even if he is old. He is twenty-four, and grandmother is always +saying that Robert is old enough to know better." + +"I know he will be all sorts of help about our play, anyway," said +Helen. + +"I know he will too," said Rosanna. "We will show him the play the +minute I finish it." + +Rosanna went right to work on her play whenever she had any time to +spare. + +When Saturday morning came she went with Doctor MacLaren to see Gwenny, +and after she had introduced him to Gwenny's mother she went and sat in +the automobile with Mary and Luella and Myron and Baby Christopher to +talk to. But she scarcely knew what she was saying because she was so +busy wondering what the doctor would do to poor Gwenny, whose back +nearly killed her if anyone so much as touched it. + +The doctor stayed a long, long time, and when he came out he stood and +talked and talked with Gwenny's mother. He smiled his kind, grave smile +at her very often, but when he turned away and came down the little walk +Rosanna fancied that he looked graver than usual. + +"Is she _very_ bad?" Rosanna asked when the machine was started. + +"Pretty bad, Rosanna dear," said the doctor. "She will need a very +serious operation that cannot be done here. She will have to go to a +hospital in Cincinnati where there is a wonderful surgeon, Doctor +Branshaw, who specializes in troubles of the spine. He will help her if +anyone can. She is in a poor condition anyway, and we will have to look +after her pretty sharply to get her in as good a shape physically as we +can. If she goes, I will take her myself, and will have her given the +best care she can have. What a dear, patient, sweet little girl she is." + +"Yes, she is!" agreed Rosanna absently. "Well, if she is as sick as you +think, I don't see but what we will just _have_ to earn the money some +way or other!" Rosanna was very silent all the way home, and that +afternoon she retired to the rose arbor and worked as hard as ever she +could on the play. It was really taking shape. Rosanna would not show +the paper to Helen or to Elise, who had been told the great secret. She +wanted to finish it and surprise them. + +By four o'clock she was so tired that she could write no longer. She put +her tablet away and started to the telephone to call Helen. As she went +down the hall the door bell rang. She could see a familiar figure +dancing up and down outside the glass door. It was Elise, apparently in +a great state of excitement. Rosanna ran and opened the door. + +Elise danced in. She caught Rosanna around the waist and whirled her +round and round. + +"Behold I have arrive, I have arrive!" she sang. + +"Of course you have arrived!" said Rosanna. "What makes you feel like +this about it?" + +"Behold!" said Elise again with a sweeping gesture toward the front +door. + +Mrs. Hargrave's house-boy, grinning from ear to ear, was coming slowly +up the steps bearing a large covered tray. Elise took it from him with +the greatest care and set it carefully on a table. + +"Approach!" she commanded, and Rosanna, really curious, drew near the +mysterious article. Slowly Elise drew off the cover. Under it in all the +glory of a golden brown crust, little crinkles all about the edge, sat a +pie looking not only good enough to eat, but almost _too_ good. + +"Peench off a tiny, tiny bit of ze frill," said Elise, pointing to the +scallopy edge. "A very tiny peench, and you will see how good. Now I can +be the Girl Scout because all the other things I can so well do." + +Rosanna took a careful pinch and found the crust light and very flaky +and dry. + +"Perfectly delicious, Elise!" she pronounced it. "Did you do it all +yourself?" + +"Of a certainty!" said Elise proudly. "I would not do the which +otherwise than as it is so required by the Girl Scouts. And now I am +most proud. If you will so kindly take me when you go to the meeting +this afternoon, I will offer this to the most adorable little Captain as +one more reason the why I should be allowed to join." + +"Of course I will take you," said Rosanna. "I was just going to +telephone for Helen. If she is ready we will start at once." + +"I will go for my hat," said Elise. Then anxiously, "Will the beautiful +pie rest here in safety?" + +"Yes, indeed; it will be perfectly safe," laughed Rosanna. + +Elise was the happiest little girl in all the room at the meeting. +Everyone fell in love with her at once, her manners were so gentle and +pretty and she was so full of life. Her curls danced and her eyes, and +her red lips smiled, and it seemed as though her feet wanted to dance +instead of going in a humdrum walk. The Scout Captain and the committee +on pie decided that Elise had made the most delicious of its kind. + +At the close of the business part of the meeting, the Captain asked as +usual if anyone had any news of interest to offer or any requests or +questions to ask. It was all Rosanna could do to keep from telling them +all about Gwenny and asking for advice and help, but she decided to keep +it all to herself until she had finished the play. Then if it turned out +to be any good (and it would be easy to tell that by showing it to Uncle +Bob) she would take it to the Captain, and if she approved, Rosanna +would bring the whole thing up before the next meeting. + +On the way home, Helen said to Rosanna, "How are you getting on with +your play, Rosanna? Did you work on it this afternoon as you expected +to?" + +"Yes, I did, and it seems to be coming along beautifully," said Rosanna. +"I wanted to ask you about it. Don't you think it would be nice to put +in a couple of songs about the Girl Scouts, and perhaps a dance?" + +"Simply splendid!" said Helen. "Oh, Rosanna, _do_ hurry! I can scarcely +wait for you to finish it. Girl Scout songs and a Girl Scout dance! Do +you know the Webster twins can dance beautifully? Their mother used to +be a dancer on the stage before she married their father, and she has +taught them the prettiest dances. They do them together. They are +awfully poor, and I don't know if they could afford to get pretty +dancing dresses to wear, but I should think we could manage somehow." + +"Oh, we will," said Rosanna. "I _do_ wish we could have our families +help us!" + +"Think how surprised they will be if we do this all by ourselves except +what Uncle Bob does, and our Scout Captain." + +"I don't see that Uncle Bob can do very much," rejoined Rosanna. "But he +is real interested and wants to help." + +"We ought to let him do whatever he can," said Helen. "Father often +tells mother that he hopes she notices how much she depends on his +superior intellect, but she just laughs and says 'Nonsense! Helen, don't +listen to that man at all!' But we must depend on our own superior +intellects now." + +"It won't take me long to finish the play," said Rosanna. "It is only +going to be a one-act play, and if it isn't long enough to make a whole +entertainment, we will have to have some recitations and songs before +and after it." + +"I do think you might let me see what you have written," coaxed Helen. + +"I would rather not," pleaded Rosanna. "Somehow I feel as though I +couldn't finish it if I should show it to anyone before it is done. I +will show it to you the very first one, Helen. Here is one thing you can +hear." + +She took a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket, and while Helen +walked very close beside her commenced: "This is a song sung by two +sisters named Elsie and Allis. And you will see what it is all about." + +"Is there a tune for it too?" said Helen in great wonder. + +"No, I can't make up music," said Rosanna regretfully, "and, anyhow, I +think it would come easier to use a tune everybody knows. This goes to +the tune of _Reuben, Reuben, I've been Thinking_. You know that?" + +"Of course," said Helen. "Now let's hear the poetry." + +Rosanna had written: + +"Two girls come on the stage, one from the right and one from the left. +One is dressed in beautiful clothes, and the other very neat and clean, +but in awfully poor things. She has on a thin shawl. She is Elsie. The +rich child is Allis. Allis sees Elsie, and sings: + + SONG + + Air, _Reuben, Reuben, I've Been Thinking_. + + _Allis._ + + Elsie, Elsie, I've been thinking + What a pleasure it would be, + If we had some friends or sisters + Just to play with you and me. + + All our time we spend in study + There is no place nice to go. + After school an hour of practice + Oh, I get to hate it so! + + _Chorus_ + + Just an hour or two of practice, + One and two and three and four; + Add, subtract, or find the tangent; + Everything is just a bore! + + _Elsie._ + + Then, dear Allis, when we finish, + We can go and take a walk; + That, unless the day is rainy, + Then we just sit down and talk. + + And there's not a thing to talk of, + Not a scheme or plan to make, + Not a deed of gentle loving, + Nothing done for Someone's sake. + + _Chorus_ + + Not a thing for us to aim for-- + Not a height for us to climb! + Just the stupid task of living; + Just the bore of passing time! + + _Enter Girl Scout with many Merit Badges on her sleeve._ + + _Girl Scout._ + + Did I hear you wish for friendships? + Mates to join in work and play? + Someone true and good and loving + You would chum with every day? + + See this uniform? It tells you + You can wear it; be a Scout! + See the sleeve with all the "Merits"? + You could win without a doubt. + + _Chorus_ + + _All--_ + + Oh, what fun we'll have together! + Oh, what work and jolly play! + Walks and talks and happy study + With the Girl Scouts every day. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +When Rosanna finished, Helen gave a sigh of delight. + +"Rosanna," she said, "it is perfectly beautiful; perfectly _beautiful_! +Shall you have the Webster girls sing that?" + +"I had not thought of them," confessed Rosanna. "I thought it would be +nice for Elise and you, Helen. You both sing so sweetly and you can both +dance too." + +"I shall be frightened to death," said Helen, trying to imagine herself +on a real little stage; at least on a make-believe stage with a curtain +stretched across Mrs. Horton's or Mrs. Hargrave's parlor. But frightened +or not, she was more than pleased that Rosanna had thought of her, and +she had no intention of giving up the part. + +She and Elise commenced to practice on the song, and between them made +up the prettiest little dance. Mrs. Culver and Mrs. Hargrave were +delighted to play their accompaniments and suggest steps. Of course they +had to be told something of what was going on, but they were very nice +and asked no questions. + +A week later Rosanna's little play was finished and ready to show Uncle +Robert. Rosanna was as nervous as a real playwright when he has to read +his lines to a scowly, faultfinding manager. She invited Helen over to +spend the night with her so she could attend the meeting. + +Her grandmother was out to a dinner-bridge party, so Rosanna and Helen +and Uncle Robert went up to Rosanna's sitting-room and prepared to read +her play. And if the truth must be told, Uncle Robert prepared to be a +little bored. But as Rosanna read on and on in her pleasant voice, +stopping once in awhile to explain things, Uncle Robert's expression +changed from a look of patient listening to one of amusement and then to +admiration. By the time Rosanna had finished he was sitting leaning +forward in his chair and listening with all his might. He clapped his +hands. + +"Well done, Rosanna!" he said heartily. "I am certainly proud of you! +Why, if you can do things of this sort at your age, Rosanna, we will +have to give you a little help and instruction once in awhile. Well, +well, that _is_ a play as _is_ a play! Don't you think so, Helen?" + +"It's just too beautiful!" said Helen with a sigh of rapture. "Just too +beautiful! Which is my part, Rosanna?" + +"I thought you could be the little girl who discovers the lost paper so +the other little Girl Scout's brother will not have to go to prison. +That is, if you like that part." + +"It is the nicest part of all," sighed Helen. "What part are you going +to take?" + +"I didn't think I would take any," said Rosanna. + +"Oh, you must be in it!" cried Helen. + +"No, Rosanna is right," declared Uncle Robert. "It is her play, you see, +and she will have to be sitting out front at all the rehearsals to see +that it is being done as she wants it." + +"That is what I thought," said Rosanna. "But you are going to help with +everything, are you not, Uncle Robert?" + +"Surest thing in the world!" declared Uncle Robert heartily. "But as +long as this is all about the Girl Scouts, won't you have to show it to +your Girl Scout Captain, or leader, before you go on with it?" + +"Of course," said Rosanna. + +"Who is she?" asked Uncle Robert carelessly. + +"Why, you saw her, Uncle Robert," replied Rosanna. "Have you forgotten +the dear sweet little lady who called when I was sick when we were +looking for someone very fierce and large?" + +"Sure enough!" said Uncle Robert after some thought. If Rosanna had +noticed she would have seen a very queer look in his eyes. He had liked +the looks of that young lady himself. "Well, what are you going to do +about it?" + +"I suppose I will have to go around to her house, and tell her all about +it and read it to her." + +"Is it written so I can read it?" said Uncle Robert, glancing over the +pages. "Very neat indeed. Now I will do something for you, if you want +me to save you the bother. Just to be obliging, I will take your play +and will go around and tell Miss Hooker that I am Rosanna's uncle, and +read it to her myself." + +"Why, you know her name!" said Rosanna. + +"Um--yes," said Uncle Robert. "I must have heard it somewhere. For +goodness' sake, Rosanna, this place is like an oven!" + +"You _are_ red," admitted Rosanna. "Well, I wish you would do that, +please, because it makes me feel so queer to read it myself. It won't +take you long so we will wait up for you to tell us what she thinks." + +"I wouldn't wait up," advised Uncle Robert, getting up. "If she likes +me, it may take some time." + +"Likes _you_?" said Rosanna. + +"I mean likes the way I read it, and likes the play, and likes the idea, +and likes everything about it," said Uncle Robert. He said good-bye and +hurried off, bearing the precious paper. + +The girls sat and planned for awhile, when the doorbell rang. Rosanna +could hear the distant tinkle, and saying "Perhaps he is back," ran into +the hall to look over the banisters. + +She returned with a surprised look on her face. + +"What do you suppose?" she demanded of Helen who sat drawing a plan of a +stage. "It is Uncle Robert, and Miss Hooker is with him. Oh, dear me, I +feel so fussed!" + +"Come down!" called Uncle Robert, dashing in the door. "I have a +surprise for you both." + +"No, you haven't! I looked over the banisters," said Rosanna, as the +three went down the broad stairs. + +Miss Hooker thought the play was so good and she was so proud to think +that one of her girls had written it that she was anxious to talk it +over at once, and had asked Uncle Robert to bring her right around to +see Rosanna and Helen. + +They all drew up around the big library table, and Uncle Robert sat next +Miss Hooker where he could make suggestions. And Miss Hooker and the +girls made a list of characters, and fitted them to different girls in +their group. Finally Miss Hooker said there were several places that +needed a little changing and would Rosanna trust her to do it with Mr. +Horton's help? At this Uncle Robert looked most beseechingly at Rosanna, +who, of course, said yes. + +"Where will we give it?" asked Helen. "As long as it is a benefit we +want a place large enough for lots of people to come. All our families +will want to come, and all the Girl Scouts' families, and perhaps some +other people besides." + +"We will give it here, won't we, Uncle Robert? Grandmother will let us, +I'm sure. In the big drawing-room, you know." + +"Not big enough," declared Uncle Robert, while both girls exclaimed. +"Now this is the part I can help about and I have just had a great idea. +You all know that big barn of Mrs. Hargrave's? We boys used to play +there on rainy days when we were little. The whole top floor is one +immense room. We can give our entertainment there. Mrs. Hargrave will +give the barn, I know. And for my contribution or part of it, I will see +that you have a stage and a curtain and all that." + +"How dear of you, Mr. Horton!" said Miss Hooker. + +"Oh, Uncle Robert, a curtain that goes up and down?" + +"Of course," said Uncle Robert, "and footlights and everything." + +"O-o-o-o-h!" sighed both girls, and Miss Hooker looked at Uncle Robert +and smiled and he seemed real pleased. + +"I think I must go if you will be kind enough to take me home," said +Miss Hooker. "Rosanna, you must tell the Girl Scouts about Gwenny at the +next meeting, and read your play. Then we will get right to work, for +the sooner this is staged, the better. We don't want to interfere with +the Christmas work." + +After Mr. Horton had taken the tiny little lady home, the girls raced +upstairs and went to bed, but it was a long, long time before they could +get to sleep. They finally went off, however, and did not hear Uncle +Robert when he came home whistling gaily. They dreamed, however, both of +them, of acting before vast audiences that applauded all their speeches. +And at last Rosanna woke up with a start to find that Helen was clapping +her hands furiously and stamping her feet against the footboard. After +Rosanna succeeded in awakening her, they had a good laugh before they +went to sleep again. + +At breakfast Uncle Robert was full of plans for the Benefit. "Miss +Hooker and I went all over your play last night, Rosanna," he said, "and +smoothed out the rough places. You know every manuscript has to be +corrected. It is on the table in my room. You had better read it over +after school, and if it suits your highness I will have it typewritten +for you, and you can go ahead. I am going to see about the barn now, on +my way down town, and if Mrs. Hargrave is willing--and I am sure she +will be--I will get a carpenter to measure for the staging. I suppose," +he added, "I ought to ask Miss Hooker to look at the place and get some +suggestions from her?" + +"Oh, I wouldn't bother to wait for her," said Rosanna, who was wild to +see the stage built. "She won't care what you do. If you like, I will +tell her how busy you are and that you won't bother to come around to +her house any more because you can attend to things just as well +yourself." + +Uncle Robert looked hard at Rosanna. It was a queer look; sort of the +look you would expect from a cannibal uncle who has a little niece that +he wants to eat. Rosanna, catching the look, was surprised and quite +disturbed. But when Uncle Robert spoke, he merely said, "Thank you, +Rosanna; but you see I _do_ need Miss Hooker's advice very much indeed. +The fact is I will never be able to put this thing through as well as I +want to put it through unless I can consult with her every day or so. In +fact, if I cannot consult as often as I need to, I will certainly have +to give it up. And that would be awful, wouldn't it?" + +"Of course it would, Uncle Robert," answered Rosanna. "I just hated to +have you bothered." + +"I will stagger along under the burden," said Uncle Robert, trying to +look like a martyr. "The thing for you to do is to forget how hard I am +working and how much help I have to have doing this, and get your girls +to studying on their parts." + +"Miss Hooker says I am to read it at the Scout meeting next week and +then we will give out the parts and let them be learning them." + +"All right, sweetness; get after them," said Uncle Robert, kissing +Rosanna, and Helen, too, "for luck" he said, and going off whistling. + +"I think the play is making Uncle Robert very happy," said Rosanna as +the front door slammed and she heard a merry whistle outside. "He is a +changed person these last few days." + +"That is what often happens," said Helen. "Probably he did not have +anything to occupy his mind after business hours, so he was unhappy. +Mother says it is a serious condition to allow oneself to be in. Now +that he has our play to think about, he feels altogether different. I do +myself. Do you know it is time to start for school? Let's be off so we +won't have to hurry, and we will have time to stop for Elise." + +Elise was ready and the three girls sauntered down the street together. + +As they passed a great imposing stone house, Elise said, "It is a +château--what you call castle, isn't it?" + +"Yes," said Rosanna, "and a cross old ogre lives in it. He and his +sister live there all alone, with lots of maids and men to serve them, +and he is so growly-wowly that Minnie says even the grocer boys are +afraid of him. That is his car in front of the door. Did you ever see +anything so large?" + +"Or so lovely?" added Elise. "If he was not so ze what you just call +growlee-wowlee, he might carry us to school; not?" + +"There he comes," said Rosanna. "Does he look as though he would carry +any little girls _any_where unless he carried them off to eat?" + +The great carved door opened and an old gentleman came down the steps. +He walked with a cane and to the children he seemed very old indeed with +his snow white hair and fierce moustaches. He scowled as he came and +stopped to switch with his cane at a vine that had straggled up the +step. He noticed the three girls approaching, and scowled at them so +fiercely that they involuntarily stopped to let him pass. But he was in +no hurry to do so. When he had looked them over sufficiently, he looked +past them and snorted loudly at something he saw up the street, but when +the girls looked around to see what was the matter, there was only a +little baby girl playing with a little woolly dog; so they all looked +back again at the old gentleman. He seemed to fascinate them. + +Three pair of round eyes fixed on him caught the old gentleman's +attention. + +"Well, well, well!" he said testily. "What do you see? Come, come, speak +out!" + +Elise drew back but the other two stood their ground, and Rosanna, who +had seen him all her life and was at least accustomed to him, said +gently: + +"We see _you_, sir." + +"Ha hum!" sputtered the old gentleman, drawing his fierce white eyebrows +together. "What about me, young woman, what about me to stare at?" + +Rosanna was distressed. There seemed nothing to do but tell him the +truth and that was almost too awful. She smoothed it down as well as she +could. + +"If you will excuse me for saying so, you looked a little cross," she +said, "and--and something must be making you very unhappy." + +"It is," said the ogre. "It makes me unhappy to see what a silly +no-account world this is; full of small children, and woolly dogs, and +things. Kittens! Babies! Chickens! Bah! All making noises! All getting +up at daybreak to play and meow and crow. Bah! Of course I am unhappy!" + +He crossed the walk, waved the footman back with his cane, stepped +painfully into the car, and with his own hand slammed the door shut. But +his anger blinded him. He did not take his hand away soon enough, and +the heavy door caught it. With a cry of pain, he dropped back on the +cushions. The middle finger was crushed and bleeding profusely. + +"Heaven protect us!" cried Elise. + +The old gentleman was almost fainting. Rosanna did not hesitate. The +Girl Scouts had to understand First Aid. She ran up to the car and +entered it, tearing up her handkerchief as she did so. Helen, close +behind her, was doing the same thing with hers. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Gently but firmly taking the bleeding finger in her little hand, Rosanna +bound it up in the strips of linen, folding them back and forth in quite +a professional manner. Helen helped her to tie the bandages. Not until +they had finished did they take time to glance up at the old gentleman. +He was deathly white and leaned heavily against the cushions. + +"Now, sir," said Rosanna, "if you will have your man drive you to a +doctor, he will treat it with an antiseptic and it will soon be all +right." + +The old gentleman commenced to brace up as he saw that the bleeding at +least was checked. The girls got out of the car, and the old gentleman +with a muttered, "Thank you, thank you," gave an order and the chauffeur +drove rapidly away. + +"He said _thank you_ once for each of us anyway," said Helen. + +Elise shuddered. "Your dress!" she said, pointing to Rosanna. Sure +enough, Rosanna was spattered with blood. + +"Oh, dear, I will have to be late," she said. "Just look at me! I will +have to go back and put on a clean dress." She turned reluctantly and +ran back home, while the others went on to school and the automobile +carried the old gentleman rapidly to the office of his doctor. + +While the physician was attending to the hand, the old gentleman, whose +name was Harriman, sat and sputtered: + +"First time I ever saw any children with a grain of common sense!" he +declared. "Little girl acted in a fairly intelligent manner. Suppose it +wouldn't happen again. Children never know anything, especially girls. +Bah!" + +"Oh, yes, they do, Mr. Harriman," said Doctor Greene soothingly. "Oh, +yes, they do! Now I have two little girls of my own, and I can tell +you--" + +"Don't!" said Mr. Harriman. "I make it a point never to listen to fond +parents. I am sure the two girls who fixed me up were unusual--very +unusual." + +"Yes, they were," said the doctor. "You will have an easier time with +this hand of yours, thanks to their skill." + +"Queer!" said Mr. Harriman. "Seemed to know just what to do." + +"Must have been Girl Scouts," said the doctor musingly. + +"Girl Scouts? What foolishness is that?" said Mr. Harriman. + +The doctor smiled. He thought of his own two daughters. + +"Ask them about it," he said, rising, and would say no more. + +Mr. Harriman limped out. + +"What are Girl Scouts?" Mr. Harriman asked his chauffeur as they drove +to his office. + +"I dunno, sah," said the colored man, starting. He always jumped when +Mr. Harriman spoke. Everyone wanted to. + +"Idiot!" said Mr. Harriman. + +"Yes, sah," said the chauffeur cheerfully. + +There seemed nothing else to say. + +Mr. Harriman's hand healed very quickly for so old a man, and the doctor +stubbornly gave all the credit to Rosanna's first-aid treatment. Mr. +Harriman could say "Stuff and nonsense!" as many times as he liked, but +it made no difference to the doctor, who smiled and refused to discuss +the matter. Mr. Harriman commenced to have a troublesome conscience. He +felt as though he should call and thank the little girl who had +befriended him to such good purpose, especially as he had known +Rosanna's grandmother all her life, but he could not bring himself to do +it and contented himself with sending two immense wax dolls and a huge +box of candy to Rosanna's house addressed to "The two girls who recently +bound up my hand." Rosanna and Helen were quite embarrassed, but Mrs. +Horton, who was immensely amused, told them that all that was necessary +was a note of thanks, which they wrote and sent off in a great hurry. +They didn't want to keep Mr. Harriman waiting. No one did. But he +couldn't find out anything about the Girl Scouts because the only +persons he asked were the very persons who would never know anything +much about anything that had to do with girls or good times or youth or +happiness. He asked his old friends at the club, when he felt like +talking at all, and so the time went on. + +In the meantime, at a Scout meeting Rosanna found herself telling the +girls all about Gwenny and the play and the plans for sending the poor +little cripple to Cincinnati for the operation which might make her +well. It was only _might_. Doctor MacLaren and the other doctors whom he +had taken to see Gwenny would only say that it could be _tried_. And the +great surgeon, Dr. Branshaw, had written Dr. MacLaren that as soon as +the child was in a fit condition she could be brought to him and he +would do what he could. He said nothing about the cost, Rosanna noticed, +when she read his letter, so she could not tell the girls what the +operation would cost. They were all as interested as they could be and +promised to work as hard as they could selling tickets, and the ones who +were chosen to take parts in the play were very happy about it. As a +matter of fact, all of them were to come on the stage, for those who had +no speaking parts came on and marched and so had a share in the glory. + +And the way they learned their parts! They almost mastered them over +night. Rehearsals went on, and the day was set for the entertainment. + +There was a great deal of hammering up in Mrs. Hargrave's barn. Mrs. +Hargrave and Miss Hooker and Uncle Robert spent a good deal of time up +there, but they would not let anyone else in. Even Elise was barred out, +and although she wrung her little hands and talked a funny mixture of +French and English in her pretty coaxing way, not one of the three would +relent and let her peek in. "Wait until it comes time for the dress +rehearsals," was all they would say. + +A week before the play, a big box came for Uncle Robert. He opened it in +Rosanna's room. It was full of tickets nicely printed on yellow +pasteboard. Rosanna read them with rapture: the name of the play, _her_ +play, and at the top in large print, + + BENEFIT PERFORMANCE + +"You have not said anything about what the performance is to be a +benefit _for_." said Rosanna. + +"That's all right," said her uncle. + +"And you have forgotten to say the price of the tickets," wailed Helen, +who was again spending the night. + +"Well," said Mr. Horton, "when I went to order those tickets for you, I +had an idea. And it was this. I thought as long as this was a benefit +performance, why not let it benefit everybody present?" + +"How can it do that?" asked Rosanna. + +"In this way," said Uncle Robert. "There will be all sorts of people +there, because some of the Girl Scouts, Miss Hooker says, are very poor +indeed, and some of them belong to families who have plenty of money. So +Miss Hooker suggested a very good scheme. Tell the girls when they sell +tickets to say that as it is a benefit and so forth and so forth, that +the tickets are simply to let the people into the hall. As they go out +they are to pay whatever they think it is worth, from five cents up." + +"Perfectly splendid!" said Helen, catching the idea at once. + +"I don't know," answered Rosanna. "They will have seen the performance +and suppose everybody will feel as though it is worth only a nickel?" + +"Oh, they won't feel like that at all, Rosanna," said Helen. "I think +every single person will think it is worth a quarter. Think if they +would all pay twenty-five cents!" + +"I know several who expect to pay a dollar," said Uncle Robert. + +"If they only will," cried Rosanna, almost sobbing, "Gwenny can go to +Cincinnati this very winter! I think it is a good idea, Uncle Robert. +After all, it is a good thing that you did consult with Miss Hooker, +even if it _has_ taken a lot of your time. I think you have been so +kind." + +"Oh, I haven't minded," said Uncle Robert in a generous way. + +"Why, you must have minded," went on Rosanna. "I have kept track all I +could, because I was so much obliged to you, and you have been over +there at Miss Hooker's house consulting--well, you had to go over five +nights last week, and Miss Hooker is always saying, 'I had a telephone +today from your uncle.' You must be tired to death. I nearly told Miss +Hooker so, but I thought it might sound rude." + +"You are right about that, Rosanna; it would have been very rude indeed, +excessively rude I may say," said Mr. Horton with some haste. "I can +scarcely think of anything worse for you to say. My sainted Maria!" + +"I didn't say it," Rosanna assured him, "and the thing is so nearly over +now, only a week more, that it really doesn't matter." + +"Not a particle!" said Mr. Horton. "But I wish you would promise me that +you won't say anything of the sort. Not that it matters, but I seem to +feel nervous." + +"Of course I will promise," agreed Rosanna. "I love Miss Hooker but of +course I love you more, and I just do hate to have you bothered." + +"It is mighty nice of you, sweetness, but you must not worry about me at +all. Now to change the conversation, as the man said when he had nearly +been hanged by mistake, you give these tickets out to your Girl Scouts +and tell them to offer them to the people who would be most likely to +give more than a nickel. It ought to be easy. They are to say that the +benefit will cost them five cents or up as they leave the hall. With +your permission, I will make a few remarks and tell them about Gwenny. +But we will not mention her by name, because if there should be a +newspaper reporter lurking around he would put it in the papers and that +would be very embarrassing." + +After Uncle Robert had gone out the girls made the tickets up in little +bundles, one for each girl in the group. Their own they spread out on +the table, planning how they would dispose of them. + +"Whom shall you sell to first?" asked Helen. + +"Mr. Harriman," said Rosanna quietly. + +Helen dropped her tickets. "Dear _me_, Rosanna!" she cried. "I would be +too afraid to offer him a ticket." + +"_I_ am not," said Rosanna. "I would do more than that for Gwenny, and I +am not afraid of him at all. Not even if he roars. And he has lots and +lots of money. I shouldn't wonder at all that he will be one of the +dollar ones if he comes. And he has _got_ to come if I go after him." + +"Dear _me_!" said Helen again, quite awed. "You are brave. Shall I come +with you?" + +"If you like," replied Rosanna. "We will go right after school +tomorrow." + +The interview with Mr. Harriman took place as planned the first thing +after school. School let out at two o'clock, and it was half-past when +the girls mounted the steps of the grim old fortress in which Mr. +Harriman lived. Now it happened that half past two was a very dark hour +for Mr. Harriman because at about that time he was always in the clutch +of a bad attack of indigestion brought on daily because he would _not_ +mind his doctor and omit pickles and sweets from his bill of fare. At +this time he read the morning paper and reviled the world at large. His +sister always left him with the excuse that she wanted to lie down, and +he was alone with his abused stomach and his pepsin tablets and his +thoughts. + +The two girls entered the room and waited for him to speak. + +Mr. Harriman looked up from his reading with a dark scowl. Most of the +newspaper was on the floor where he had thrown it to stamp on. He always +felt better when he stamped on the editorials that displeased him most. +It seemed to soothe his feelings. He managed to grunt, "'Dafternoon! +'Dafternoon!" when he saw the two girls advance across his library, and +then he waited, looking over the tops of a very grubby pair of glasses +for them to state their errands. It was Rosanna who spoke first, +although generally Helen was the spokesman. But Helen was frankly afraid +of the grouchy old gentleman, while Rosanna was too anxious to help +Gwenny to be afraid of anyone. So she said, "Please excuse us, Mr. +Harriman, if we have interrupted your reading." + +"Well, you have!" said Mr. Harriman gruffly. "Whadder you want? Sell me +chances on a doll's carriage or sofy pillow? Who's getting up your fair? +Meth'dist, 'Piscopal? Here's a dime." + +He held out the money, which Rosanna took gently and laid on the table +beside him. + +"Thank you," she said. "We don't want any money today. We have come to +tell you about an entertainment we are going to give. First if you don't +mind I think I will just shine up your glasses. You can't see to think +through them the way they are," and as Helen looked on, expecting to see +Rosanna snapped in two any second, she held out her hand for the +glasses, shaking out a clean pocket handkerchief as she did so. No one +was more surprised than Mr. Harriman himself when he took off the smeary +spectacles and handed them to Rosanna, who silently polished them and +handed them back. They _were_ better; Mr. Harriman acknowledged it with +a grunt. + +"Girls are real handy," said Rosanna with her sweet smile. + +"Grrrrrr!" from Mr. Harriman. "Whadded you want to tell me?" but his +voice certainly seemed a shade less gruff. + +Rosanna, speaking distinctly and as carefully as though she was +explaining to a small child, told the old man about Gwenny and the +benefit and after that, as he sat perfectly still looking at her through +unnaturally shiny glasses, she went on to tell him about the Girl +Scouts. You couldn't tell whether he cared a snap about it, but at all +events he listened, and Helen and Rosanna both thought it was a good +sign. They did not dare to glance at each other, but Rosanna went on +talking until she felt that she had told him all that he would want to +know if he had been a regular sort of a human being instead of a +grouchy, cross old man who seemed to delight in scaring everyone away +from him. + +"That's all," said Rosanna finally, smiling up into the scowling old +face. + +There was a long silence, + +"Grrrrrr!" said Mr. Harriman again. "So you want me to come to your +show, do you? Haven't been to a show for forty years! No good! Silly!" + +"Ours isn't," declared Helen, suddenly finding her voice. "Our +entertainment is perfectly splendid!" + +"Perfectly splendid!" mimicked Mr. Harriman. "Sounds just like a woman! +All alike, regardless of age. Grrrrrr!" + +"You will come, won't you?" asked Rosanna. "Please do! You see it is +only a nickel if you do not think it is worth more." + +"A great many persons are going to pay a quarter," hinted Helen. + +"All right, all right!" said Mr. Harriman. "You are less objectionable +than most children. I will come if I can remember it." + +"Suppose I come after you?" suggested Rosanna, remembering what she had +said to Helen about getting Mr. Harriman if she had to come after him. + +"All right, all right! Let it go at that! I know your sex! You will +forget all about your agreement by the time you reach the next corner. +If you come after me, I will go to your show. In the Hargrave barn, eh? +Anything to sit on, or shall I bring a chair?" + +"No, sir; Uncle Robert has fixed seats and everything. And I will come +for you quite early because I have to be there doing my part." + +"That's nuff!" grunted Mr. Harriman, nodding curtly. "'Dafternoon!" He +resumed his paper, and as he caught the opening sentences of the article +before him, there came a sound like the grating of teeth and the noise +of a large boiler that is about to explode. + +The girls said, "Good afternoon!" in two small voices and went out as +quickly as they could. + +Helen breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the outer air. + +"Rosanna, you are certainly a very brave girl," she said. "I am glad to +get out alive. Every minute I expected to hear him say, 'Fee-fi-fo-fum, +I smell the breath of an English-mun!'" + +Rosanna laughed. + +"He is pretty awful," she granted. "But I mean to make him come. I think +it will do him good to see that play, and I shall certainly go after +him. If he thinks I am going to forget about him, he is greatly +mistaken." + +"Let's try to get rid of all our tickets this afternoon. You know we are +to meet Uncle Robert at the barn at five o'clock to see the theatre he +has fixed up. Oh, Helen, I am _so_ excited!" + +For a couple of hours the girls repeated the story of Gwenny and the +benefit until they could say it by heart. The tickets went so fast that +they were sorry that they did not have twice as many. At a quarter of +five they hurried back to Mrs. Hargrave's, where Elise was waiting for +them and Uncle Robert soon joined them. There was a short wait then, +because he refused to unlock the door before Miss Hooker arrived +although the girls begged and begged, assuring him that she wouldn't +mind. + +Finally they heard the tap, tap, tap of her tiny shoes on the old brick +walk, and round the corner she came, looking more dimply and dainty and +altogether beautiful than ever. Uncle Robert looked as though he could +eat her, but somehow it was not the sort of look he had given Rosanna +that other time. Not at all! Rosanna noticed it. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The stairs were broad and easy, and the girls ran up after Uncle Robert +who proceeded to fit a large key in the lock of the big door at the head +of the stairs. It was a very fine stable, built many, many years ago, +and finished outside and inside with great care. The walls were all +sealed or finished with narrow strips of varnished wood. As the door +swung open, the three girls stood dumb with amazement. Then "Oh, +_darling_ Uncle Robert!" cried Rosanna, and threw herself into his arms. + +Uncle Robert looked over her head at Miss Hooker and smiled. + +"Glad if you like it, kiddie," he said. "It is my contribution to little +Gwenny. And Doctor Rick told me to tell you that he would send some +music for his share." + +"Oh, Helen, Helen, isn't that _splendid_?" cried Rosanna. "Now we won't +have to have a Victrola! It will be like a real theatre." + +"Just exactly," said Helen absently. She could not give very much +thought to the orchestra when the little theatre claimed her attention. + +There was a real stage, and before it a long green tin that the girls +knew concealed the footlights. A splendid curtain hung before them, +painted in a splashy way with a landscape. To the girls it seemed a rare +work of art. Well, the sign painter who had done it was rather proud of +himself, so it _must_ have been all right. + +They walked down the aisle between rows of nice new benches, made with +comfortable backs. Mr. Horton left them and went around back of the +stage. Immediately there was a sound of ropes squeaking, and the curtain +rose as majestically as though it was the curtain of a real theatre. And +there was the stage! The same accommodating sign painter had painted a +back drop and "flies" as they are called. It was a woodland scene. Trees +were the thing that accommodating sign painter could do best, and he had +made lots of them, as green as green! He had also painted two canvas +covered boxes so that you could scarcely tell them from real rocks. + +"Isn't that pretty nifty looking scenery?" asked Uncle Robert proudly. +"It only goes to show that there is a lot of kindness floating around +loose in this work-a-day old world. The man who painted all this knew +Gwenny's mother when she was a girl, and when I asked for his bill he +said he had done it all Sundays and nights and it was his contribution. +He wouldn't take a cent. Doing it nights is why some of the trees look +sort of bluish but I don't think it hurts, do you?" + +"What a nice, _nice_ man!" exclaimed Miss Hooker. "I should say it +_doesn't_ hurt! To think of his working nights after painting all day +long. I should admire those trees if they were a bright _purple_!" + +"Of course you would," said Uncle Robert softly. "You are like that." + +Rosanna was hurt. "Why, Uncle Robert! She doesn't mean that she would +just as _soon_ like a purple tree as a green one. She means how nice it +was of the man." + +"Thank you, Rosanna; it is all perfectly clear to me now," smiled Uncle +Robert. "Perfectly clear." He looked again at Miss Hooker and she +smothered a little smile behind her little handkerchief. + +They hated to go out of the theatre and see Uncle Robert lock the door. +Then they separated. Elise danced off to the house. Miss Hooker and +Helen went down the street together, and Uncle Robert and Rosanna cut +across the garden. Rosanna's heart was full. She wanted _everybody_ to +be happy. + +"Uncle Robert," she said, "sometimes I wish that you were going to get +married after awhile. If you were only going to marry Miss Hooker or +some young lady just like her, so little and sweet!" + +"Well, it is worth considering," said Uncle Robert. "I wonder now, just +for the sake of argument, that is, if I _should_ do it to accommodate +you, I wonder if Miss Hooker _would_ marry me." + +"Oh, no," said Rosanna. "She wouldn't _think_ of it." + +"Ugh!" said Uncle Robert. It sounded as though someone had knocked all +the air out of him. + +"No," continued Rosanna. "We were talking about Minnie getting married +one day, and I said it was the only wedding I was ever apt to have +anything to do with because I had heard you say many times that you were +not a marrying man." + +"What did she say?" asked Uncle Robert in a sort of strangled voice +which Rosanna, skipping along at his side, failed to notice. + +"Oh, she said, 'How interesting!' and I said, 'Isn't it? Because he is +nicer than anyone I know, but he says that girls never cut any figure in +his young life except to play with.'" + +"What did she say then?" demanded Mr. Horton. + +"Nothing at all," answered Rosanna, "but she is sensible too, because +the next time I was there, she asked more about Minnie, and then she +said she had decided never to marry. She said she liked to be polite to +men and help them pass the time, and to assist them in worthy works, but +further than that she despised the whole lot of them, especially +blonds." Rosanna looked up to see what color hair Uncle Robert had, and +noticed a very queer look on his face. + +"You look so queer, Uncle Robert," she said tenderly. "Don't you feel +well?" + +"No, I don't," said Uncle Robert. "I think if you will excuse me I will +take a walk." + +"How _do_ you feel?" persisted Rosanna. + +"I feel--I feel _queer_," said Uncle Robert. "I feel sort of as though I +had been gassed." + +He turned abruptly and went down the walk, leaving Rosanna staring after +him. At dinner, however, Uncle Robert declared that he was all right, so +Rosanna stopped worrying. + +Everything went rushing along. And everything went beautifully, thanks +to the energy everybody put into their work. A couple of days before the +day of the entertainment Uncle Robert appeared with a copy of the +programs that he had had printed. All the Girl Scouts, when Rosanna +brought it to the rehearsal, read it until the paper was quite worn out. +At the bottom of the page, after the program part, was printed plainly, +_Given by the Girl Scouts of Group II_. Whoever saw the program at all +could not fail to see that they were all in it, one as much as another. + +At last the great day came! It was Saturday, of course. No other day +would be possible for busy school girls. Directly after supper, the +Scouts commenced to file into the theatre by ones and twos and threes. +They gathered in the dressing-rooms back of the stage, where they sat or +stood in solemn groups. Helen and Elise had arrived, and as Rosanna +started across the garden she happened to think of Mr. Harriman. She +could not suppress a groan of dismay as she remembered her promise to go +after him. There was no time to get Helen or Elise to go. She looked +wildly up and down for some other Girl Scout, but there was not one in +sight. If she did not go, Mr. Harriman would indeed think that all women +were alike. So she flitted down the street looking like a good fairy in +her shimmering blue dress, with the tiny wreath of forget-me-nots +banding her dark hair. She had not taken time to put on her blue evening +coat, with its broad bands of white fox fur, but held it round her +shoulders with both hands as she ran. + +Mr. Harriman was at home, the footman said, but he was engaged; had +company for dinner, and they had not quite finished. Would she wait? + +Rosanna said she was sorry but she would have to go right in and speak +to Mr. Harriman. So she passed the pompous servant and at the +dining-room door a still more pompous butler, and stepped into the +presence of Mr. Harriman and his guests. + +Miss Harriman, a thin, scared little old lady, sat at the head of the +table. Opposite her, busy with a large dish of plum pudding, sat Mr. +Harriman. His two guests sat on either side of him. They were old too, +so three white-haired old gentlemen turned and looked at Rosanna as she +entered and dropped a curtsey. + +"'Devening! There you are again! Grrrrrr! Didn't forget, did you? Bah! +Want I should go to show?" said Mr. Harriman, partly to Rosanna and +partly to the others. + +"Yes, sir; this is the night," said Rosanna. + +"What's this?" asked one of the gentlemen, who looked as though he could +not have said _grrrrrr_ or _bah_ to save his life. + +"That's a Girl Scout," said Mr. Harriman. "Told you at the club that I +would find out about 'em. Here's a live one. Caught her myself." He +acted quite pleased. + +"Shall I wait and walk over with you, Mr. Harriman," asked Rosanna, "or +will you come as soon as you can? You see I must be over there very +early." + +"I will come m'self," said Mr. Harriman. "Want piece puddin'? No? +S'good! I will come later. Won't break my word. Didn't break yours. +Bring these fellows along if they have any money." + +"How much will we need?" said the third old gentleman, laughing. + +"Anything from a nickel up," replied Rosanna. + +"Cost you a quarter," said Mr. Harriman. "Cosgrove, here, will have to +pay thirty-five cents. Based on income tax!" + +Rosanna, watching him, thought she saw a real twinkle in Mr. Harriman's +eye. She warned them to be on time and promised to save three seats for +them in the front row. Then she went skipping happily off. Three instead +of one to come to the play, two quarters, and thirty-five cents made +eighty-five cents right there! It was enough to make _anyone_ skip. When +she reached the barn people were filing up the broad stairs, and the +room was already half full. Uncle Robert stood near the door nodding and +smiling and telling the Girl Scout ushers where to seat one and another. +Rosanna hurriedly wrote "Taken" on the backs of three tickets, and laid +them on three spaces on the bench nearest the stage. As people kept +coming, she commenced to wonder if there would be seats enough. She +whispered her fear to Uncle Robert. + +"That's all right," he said. "I have one of the box stalls downstairs +full of camp chairs, and the sign painter is here to help me bring them +up if they are needed." + +"You think of everything," said Rosanna fondly, then set herself to +watch the door for Mr. Harriman. It was not long before she heard the +clump, clump, clump of his cane and the heavy footsteps of his two +friends. She escorted them proudly to their seats, and left them nodding +appreciatively at the bright curtain and all the fittings of the little +theatre. Then she hurried around back of the stage. + +"They came, eighty-five cents' worth!" she whispered to Helen. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Mr. Harriman is here and two of his friends," said Rosanna. "And Mr. +Harriman and one friend will give twenty-five cents, and the other will +give thirty-five." + +"Good!" said Helen. "How do I look? Is the place filling up? Have you +seen the music Doctor Rick sent? Five pieces! They have just come. They +are down in the feed room getting their instruments out. Oh, I am _so_ +excited! And it is all to make Gwenny well." + +"I am going out now," said Rosanna. "I wish you could all sit out in +front. It does not seem fair for me to do so." + +"It _is_ fair," Helen assured her. "Didn't you write the whole play? Of +course you must see that it is played right." + +When Rosanna appeared she glanced at Mr. Harriman and was surprised to +have him beckon her to him. + +"Sit here," he said, making a small but sufficient space between himself +and one of his friends--the thirty-five cent one, Rosanna noticed. She +sat down, and as she did so the music started off with a flourish. How +splendidly it sounded! It quite drowned the sound of people entering. +Uncle Robert, and the sign painter, and a couple of brothers belonging +to one of the girls were busy bringing camp chairs and placing them in +the wide aisle and along the sides. Two bright red spots burned on +Rosanna's cheeks. + +She looked at her wrist watch. In five minutes it would begin. And it +did. + +A row of Girl Scouts in crisp, natty looking uniforms, marching +according to size, so that the large girls were in the center of the +stage, came out before the curtain and sang one of their best Girl Scout +songs. Their voices were so sweet and they sang so well that they had to +return and give an encore. Mr. Harriman pounded with his cane. + +Then the Webster girls, dressed as fairies, came out and danced what the +program called the Moonbeam Dance, and behold, Uncle Robert had fixed a +spot light so they looked pink and white and purple and blue by turns +and it was like a real theatre. + +There was so much applause after this that Rosanna could not help +wondering if it was a good strong barn! + +Then there was a short pause while the orchestra played. + +As it ended, Uncle Robert appeared before the curtain. He looked so +beautiful to Rosanna in his evening dress with his merry eyes and +pleasant smile, that her eyes filled with tears of pride. And he made a +beautiful simple little speech. He told the audience a great deal about +the Girl Scouts and all the good the organization was doing for the +girls and others as well, and then he told of the little lame girl, +suffering so hopelessly and so patiently, and how these Girl Scouts had +determined to help her. He told them there was no price set on the +tickets, because some might feel like giving ten cents or even a quarter +or so but that no one was _asked_ to leave more than a nickel. And then +he called their attention to the beautiful curtain and told them that +that and the scenery was the gift of a friend who was a sign painter, +who had done it Sundays and nights after work as his contribution to the +benefit, and everybody clapped furiously, and Mr. Harriman and the +thirty-five cent gentleman commenced to nudge each other behind Rosanna. +_She_ was sitting on the very front edge of the bench. + +Then Uncle Robert said: + +"After another short selection by the orchestra there will be a play +written by one of the Girl Scouts. We hope that you will enjoy it." He +bowed, and stepped behind the curtain, while everybody clapped and Mr. +Harriman thumped with his cane. + +As the orchestra struck up, the thirty-five cent gentleman leaned over +to Mr. Harriman and said, "What are you going to do about it, Dick?" + +"Do 'swell's you do," said Mr. Harriman. + +"Just as much?" questioned the thirty-five cent gentleman. + +"Yes," said Mr. Harriman, snorting. "And fifty over!" + +"I will break even with you both," said the third gentleman, leaning +across. + +Mr. Cosgrove took out a check book and a fountain pen and commenced to +write. Mr. Harriman leaned behind Rosanna and watched. + +"Poh! Hum! Grrrrrr! Piker!" he said, and Mr. Cosgrove, laughing, tore up +his check and wrote another which he handed to Mr. Harriman. Rosanna did +not think it would be polite to look, but wondered what in the world +they were doing when they should have been listening to the music. + +"S'all right," said Mr. Harriman. "Girl's pretty lame, isn't she, +Rosanna?" + +"Gwenny can't walk at all," replied Rosanna, "and even at night her back +hurts so she can't sleep." + +"Poor little broken pot," said the third gentleman softly. "A pity that +the hand of the Potter slipped." + +"Save your poetry, Bristol!" grunted Mr. Harriman. "This talks better." +He struck the check book with his pen, and Mr. Bristol, borrowing a +page, wrote busily as the curtain rose. + +Rosanna, hoping they would forget business for a while, bent her eyes on +the stage. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +As the play progressed Rosanna commenced to doubt her own senses. It did +not seem possible that she could have written anything so good and so +interesting. + +When the act ended, there was a louder burst of applause than at any +other time, and to Rosanna's horror some one in the back of the room +commenced to cry, "Author, author!" Rosanna did not realize at first +that they meant her and was looking around the room with a great deal of +interest when she felt both Mr. Harriman and Mr. Cosgrove pushing her to +her feet. She stood up because they shoved her up, and she did not know +what to do next. + +Then the most amazing thing of all happened. + +Mr. Harriman rose to his feet and taking Rosanna firmly by the arm as +though she might dash off any instant, he started toward the three +little steps at one side of the stage. Up these steps he sternly piloted +Rosanna, while everyone in the room clapped and clapped again. All of +Louisville knew Mr. Harriman, and when everybody saw that _he_ was +escorting the little girl who had written the play, they sat quite still +to see what would happen next. When they reached the stage and stood +facing the audience, someone called, "Speech, speech!" but that was +'way, 'way beyond Rosanna, who was perfectly overcome anyway. She looked +pleadingly at Mr. Harriman, who knew what she meant, and took pity on +her. + +"Hum, grrrrrr," he commenced. "Ladies and gentlemen, this little lady, +who is the author and producer of the play you have just seen, asks me +to speak for her. She thanks you for your appreciation, and for the help +you are giving to herself and these other generous Girl Scouts in their +efforts to assist a girl less fortunate than themselves. You have heard +about the little cripple who is to be benefited by the work of these +girls, and I think we, the audience fortunate enough to be present at +this memorable occasion, will esteem it a pleasure to do what we can +toward making it possible for this little sufferer to obtain a possible +cure through a very serious and expensive operation. We thank you. +Grrrrrr!" He _glared_ at Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bristol, and bowed. +Rosanna dipped a hasty curtsey, and they went off the stage again as +everybody clapped and the music struck up the jolliest piece they knew. +The entertainment was over! + +Back with Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bristol, each old gentleman shook hands +with Rosanna and started for the door, where Uncle Robert, intent on the +most important part of all, sat at the table on which was a shoe box +with a slot cut in the cover. He was smiling and beaming and saying, +"Thank you!" over and over as people congratulated him on Rosanna's +play. Miss Hooker stood beside him looking so sweet and true and pretty +that when Mr. Harriman came up and looked at her, and started to say +"Grrrrrr," it actually sounded like a purr! He hastily shoved something +white through the slot, and Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bristol followed him, +looking very guilty. + +Then Mr. Harriman turned back. + +"Absolutely confidential, Horton! No newspapers!" he said. + +"Absolutely, sir, and thank you," said Uncle Robert, bowing to the +three. He commenced to suspect something! + +Miss Hooker stooped to whisper something to Robert. As soon as the last +person had left the hall, he obeyed the whisper, and taking the precious +box, which was sealed with red sealing wax where the cover went on, he +went behind the scenes. All the girls were there, as well as the sign +painter and the two brothers. These three looked immensely relieved when +a fourth member of their sex appeared. Mrs. Hargrave was there too, and +she was inviting everyone to walk over to her house and have something +to eat. She said she believed it was customary after the first +presentation of a play. + +When some of the girls said they would have to go home with their folks +on account of getting home with escort, Mrs. Hargrave at once added that +she had arranged with Mrs. Horton to send the girls home in their +automobiles. + +So very soon they were all in Mrs. Hargrave's immense dining-room, +sitting in chairs ranged round the room and being served chicken +bouillon and sandwiches, and fruit salad, and olives, and cocoa, and +ice-cream with whipped cream on top. All they could eat of each thing +too! + +"I can't wait to see the inside of that box," said Mrs. Hargrave after +all the Girl Scouts and the sign painter and the two brothers had said +good night and thank you, and had gone. "What if these children of ours +_do_ have to sleep half the day tomorrow? Telephone your mother, Miss +Hooker, that you are here with me, and that you will be home presently, +and we will go into the library and watch Robert count the money. And +whatever is lacking, when it comes to settling for that operation, Mrs. +Horton and I intend to make up." + +Robert Horton laughed. + +"I have an idea that you are on the safe side of the bargain, dear +lady," he said. "I think this box will surprise us." + +"How much do you suppose is in it?" asked Miss Hooker as she started for +the telephone. "A hundred dollars?" + +"Five hundred at the least," answered Uncle Robert. + +Everybody started to hurry for the library at that as though the money +in the box would have to be counted as rapidly as possible for fear it +might fly away. + +Uncle Robert happened to sit beside Miss Hooker again, but Rosanna sat +on the other side. He cut the sealing wax and opened the box. There was +all sorts of silver money there _except nickels_! There was not one +nickel. Dimes, quarters, fifty-cent pieces, and silver dollars, but not +a nickel. + +Uncle Robert placed the coins in neat piles, then he commenced to stack +the paper money. After he had done this, he sorted out five checks, +which he laid by themselves quite respectfully, face down. + +Then he drew out a pencil and paper and commenced to count. No one +spoke. At the last, still keeping the faces of the five checks out of +sight, he added them in, covered the paper with his hand, and looked up. +He seemed dazed. + +"How much do you think?" he demanded. + +"Don't make us guess, Robert," said his mother. + +"Two thousand, two hundred and thirty-four dollars and twenty-five +cents," he said slowly. + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Mrs. Hargrave sharply. + +Miss Hooker gave a gasp. The girls, perfectly round-eyed, sat silent. + +"There it is!" said Mr. Horton. "Mr. Bristol and Mr. Cosgrove each gave +a check for five hundred dollars, and Mr. Harriman wrote his for five +hundred and fifty." + +Mrs. Horton sniffed. + +"Dick Harriman never gave twenty-five dollars to anything like this in +his life," she said. + +"Well, here is his check," declared her son. + +"So _that_ is where the fifty came in," said Rosanna, finding her voice. +She repeated the conversation she had heard. Everybody laughed. + +"Poor Dick!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "He doesn't feel well, and his bark is +so bad that I doubt if anyone ever before stopped to see what his bite +was like until Rosanna tried. I reckon he is happier tonight than he has +been for a long while. He would think it was a great joke, too, to +cajole Henry Bristol and Clinton Cosgrove into giving that money. Well, +they can afford it many times over, so it will do them all good." + +"Too bad Rick MacLaren isn't here," said Uncle Robert. "He has a sick +patient on hand, and couldn't come. I will tell him the first thing in +the morning." + +"And these girls _must_ go to bed," said Mrs. Horton. "Are you going to +stay with Rosanna, Helen?" + +"I think I will just have to go home and tell mother and father about it +if there is any way for me to get there," replied Helen. + +"If Miss Hooker feels like the extra walk, we will take you on our way +to her house," said Uncle Robert eagerly. + +"I would love it," said Miss Hooker obligingly. + +Rosanna marvelled. + +Miss Hooker lived blocks away from Helen, in the opposite direction, but +as the older people said nothing, Rosanna kept silence. At all events +the benefit was over, and her Uncle Robert would no longer feel obliged +to spend all his time with a mere girl, because no matter how lovely, +Rosanna knew that he didn't care for girls. + +A number of girls ranging in age from twelve to sixteen were busy +repeating in a number of homes that night just how they had felt at +different times during the evening, and explaining to less fortunate +brothers and sisters how good everything had tasted afterwards. And +Sunday morning, a great many mothers had a difficult time getting their +Girl Scout daughters awake. + +Rosanna had a long talk with Uncle Bob. She wanted to know what was +going to be done about the money. + +"I have been thinking about that," said Uncle Robert. "I will put it in +the bank the first thing tomorrow morning. I shall put it in the office +bank for safe keeping until then." + +"Do you suppose it will take all of it for Gwenny's operation?" asked +Rosanna. + +"No, I do not," Robert replied, "but of course Doctor Branshaw is a very +high priced specialist, and he sets his own fees." + +"If he knew that Gwenny was a poor little girl and that the Girl Scouts +were taking care of her, I wonder if it would make any difference?" + +Uncle Robert shook his head. "I don't believe I would ask a favor of +anyone, now that you have earned such a lot of money. Just go ahead and +pay her way like good sports. At that, with the hospital charges and +nurses paid, I think you may have a little left over. If we have, we +will have to find the best way to spend it for Gwenny. I want to consult +with Miss Hooker about it later if she is not too tired." + +"Consult again! Oh, _poor_ Uncle Robert!" said Rosanna compassionately. +"I thought that was all over with." + +"It is not as painful as you seem to think," said Uncle Robert dryly. +"At all events, my health is not breaking under the strain. I never knew +you to fuss so, Rosanna. Just what have you up your sleeve anyhow? Don't +you like your Captain after all?" + +"Oh, I perfectly _love_ her," cried Rosanna warmly. "You don't know how +sweet she is, Uncle Robert! And she is such a good Captain. Every girl +in the patrol loves her and will do anything in the world for her." + +Seeing that Uncle Robert appeared to be listening, Rosanna went on +warming to her subject. + +"At the Rally, I heard one of the ladies say that our Captain was +considered the best one in all the city. And she looks so young; just +like one of the girls when she gets into her Scout uniform. When we are +on hikes, she runs around and plays with us and joins all our games. Oh, +yes, Uncle Robert, I do love her dearly!" + +"I don't know but what I do myself," admitted Uncle Robert unexpectedly. + +"Why, Uncle _Robert_!" said Rosanna in a shocked tone. "What a thing for +you to say!" + +Uncle Robert wondered if he had made a mistake. It was not the sort of a +remark he would want repeated. So he made another mistake. + +"Wasn't it? A joke, Rosanna; just a merry jest. Thought you would laugh +over it. Ha ha! Ha ha!" + +"Ha ha!" repeated Rosanna to be agreeable. Sometimes Uncle Robert was +rather disappointing. "But she is lovely anyway, and has loads and loads +of friends, and, Uncle Robert, I think she has a sweetheart because +boxes and boxes of flowers come to her, and she just keeps a little one +to wear, and sends all the rest to the hospital. And lovely books come +by mail and the fattest letters! One had poetry in it, too. I could tell +by the shape of the writing down the page." + +"Don't snoop, Rosanna," said Uncle Robert sharply. + +"I didn't, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna in a hurt tone. "She was sitting +close to me on the sofa, and I couldn't help seeing. She liked it too, +because she smiled so sweetly and showed all her dimples, even the one +that almost _never_ comes out." + +"What a little ray of sunshine you are, Rosanna!" said her uncle +strangely. + +"Thank you; a Girl Scout _ought_ to be," replied Rosanna. + +"Well, you are, all right, sweetness," said Uncle Robert. He sighed +deeply almost as though the ray of sunshine had not come his way at all. +He kissed Rosanna and then sat her down rather hard in a deep chair. "I +don't know when I have felt so cheered up. And now, if you would like to +call the garage and order the little car for me, I will go around to see +Doctor MacLaren and tell him the good news of our fortune. And on second +thoughts, I don't believe I will have to consult with Miss Hooker at +all. I think perhaps you are right. I have bothered her enough." + +"She has been _very_ polite and kind about it all, hasn't she?" asked +Rosanna. + +"Most polite and kind," Mr. Horton agreed. "But we don't want to wear +her kindness out, do we, Rosanna? I will go see Rick, and in a day or +two my part of this affair will be finished. And I won't have to bother +anybody. I am thinking of a little trip out West, Rosanna. I wish you +could go with me." + +"I wish I could!" said Rosanna, "but grandmother wouldn't want me to +leave school, and besides I couldn't leave the Scouts just now. Where do +you think of going, Uncle Robert?" + +"Nowhere in particular, unless--" he thought a moment. "It might be fun +to look up some place where they had never heard of the Girl Scouts." + +"Perfectly splendid!" said Rosanna. "_That_ would be doing a good deed. +You could tell the people about us, and start a patrol. I must tell Miss +Hooker about this; she will think it is so nice of you. She appreciates +kind acts, even if she doesn't like men." + +"It is not worth mentioning, Rosanna," answered Uncle Robert. "Besides, +I didn't have just that in mind. However, I hear the car and will leave +you before--before I do anything I regret." + +He went off, and Rosanna watched him through the window as he started +his car. He was real jerky with it, and it sputtered and missed, and +went off with a leap. + +"He is all tired out," thought Rosanna. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Time passed, a great many things happening. Gwenny, accompanied by her +mother (there being plenty of money for everything), was taken away to +the place of her great trial. When the question arose as to what should +be done with Mary and Tommy and Myron and Luella and Baby Christopher, +Rosanna thought of Minnie, always so good and kind. She went to see her, +and the result was that Minnie volunteered to stay at Gwenny's and run +the little house and take care of the children as long as Mrs. Harter +was needed in Cincinnati. Both Doctor MacLaren and Mr. Horton went with +Mrs. Harter and Gwenny, and made the journey as comfortable as they +possibly could. The great Doctor Branshaw, after seeing his patient, +said that she must have at least a week of rest under his own eye before +he would be willing to try the operation. So Gwenny was settled in a +sunny room at the hospital where she at once became the pet of the ward +and Doctor MacLaren and Mr. Horton came home. + +Late in the afternoon, the very next Sunday, Mr. Horton came into the +house looking the picture of gloom. He scarcely spoke to his mother and +Rosanna but rushed up to his room and immediately there was a sound of +things being dragged around, and many footsteps. And the door opened and +shut a great many times. Mrs. Horton wondered what that boy was up to +now and went on reading. But Rosanna listened with a black suspicion +growing in her mind. + +And, sure enough, Mr. Horton came down presently to announce that he was +going away for a few weeks. He was getting stale, he said, and needed a +little change. When he saw Rosanna's round eyes fixed on him, he looked +away but repeated that he felt stale. + +"It is that War," said his mother, as though the war should be severely +reprimanded. "Before you went into that war, you were always contented. +Now nothing contents you for long." + +"Perhaps you are right," admitted Robert absently. "At all events I can +be spared from the office just now better than at any other time, and I +am going to go away." + +And go he did an hour later. Mrs. Hargrave and Elise came in presently +to take Sunday night luncheon. + +"Where is Robert?" asked Mrs. Hargrave, seeing that no place was set for +him. + +"Gone off for a vacation," said his mother. + +"Dear me, isn't he well?" asked Mrs. Hargrave. + +"Perfectly, but he just took one of his notions and went." + +"Anything--er--happened, do you suppose?" questioned Mrs. Hargrave. +"Anything--er, _you_ know. Misunderstanding?" + +"Possibly," answered Mrs. Horton. "That is what I suspect. But I don't +_know_ anything." + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" cried Mrs. Hargrave, folding her fine old hands +together. "It is too bad! Can't something be done? Why, Robert is the +finest boy in this world! He is just what I dream my son would have been +if I had had one. Do you suppose one could say anything to the other +person?" + +"No, indeed," said Mrs. Horton. "I don't _know_, you see. I only +suspect." + +So Uncle Robert went away, and Gwenny was off at the hospital, and +Rosanna and Helen spent all their time drilling Elise in the +requirements of the Tenderfoot examination. Elise was quick to learn, +but she found more difficulty in learning this because her knowledge of +English was of course limited. The girls were anxious to make a +brilliant showing with their recruit. + +Over and over they drilled her in the Tenderfoot examination, at the +last requiring her to write the answers to the examination paper which +read as follows: + + TENDERFOOT EXAMINATION, + + WRITTEN. + + 1 a Give the Scout promise. + b What does the Scout motto mean? + + 2 Give the Scout laws in order. + + 3 a What is the purpose of the Scout movement? + b What does a Scout's honor mean? + c Give the meaning of one law. + d How and when should the Scout salute be given? + e Explain the Scout badge. + + 4 a Who made the American flag? + b Why was a flag needed? + c In what city was it made? What year? + d Name the committee appointed to design it. + + 5 a Quote General Washington's words about the flag. + b When was the flag officially adopted? + c Describe the first official flag of the stars and stripes. + + 6 a What do the stars represent? The stripes? + b For what do the colors, red, white and blue stand? + c How many stars has the flag now? What day is Flag day? + d When is a new star added and why? + + 7 Give fully the respect due the flag. + + 8 a What should Scouts do when the National Anthem is played? + b What should Civilians do at Retreat? Scouts? + + 9 a What is the United States Government? + b Who is at its head? + c Name the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. + +10 a Write America. + b Write The Star Spangled Banner (omitting 3rd stanza). + +Then followed the demonstration of knots and knot tying. Over and over +they drilled her, and Elise was an apt pupil. Her delicate little +fingers seemed to know of themselves what to do. + +"I am glad she is to _write_ that examination," sighed Helen the day +before Elise was to go to Captain Hooker and take her examination +formally. She was to be examined on Friday afternoon, and at the meeting +Saturday night she was to become a Tenderfoot Scout member of their +patrol. + +"What difference does it make whether she writes the exam, or recites +her answers?" returned Rosanna. "She speaks brokenly, of course, but +that does not matter." + +"All it matters is that no one could hear her speak of General +Washington the way she does in her funny broken English, without wanting +to scream. It is so funny." + +Funny or not, Elise went through her examination most successfully and +Saturday night accompanied Helen and Rosanna to the meeting at Miss +Hooker's house. Their little Captain had fitted up a room specially for +her girls, where they could keep their various documents and where the +seats, the neat desk for the secretary, and the standard for the big +silk flag did not need to be disturbed in the intervals between +meetings. + +Elise was thrilled beyond words. + +As they entered the room she saw that the two girls saluted their little +Captain. Not knowing if she was expected to salute before becoming a +Scout, Elise dropped a shy curtsey and followed Rosanna to a seat where +they awaited the full number of Scouts and the shrill whistle from the +Lieutenant which brought the meeting to order. + +"The first whistle means _Attention_," whispered Helen. + +Once again it sounded. + +"That is for Assembly," whispered Rosanna on the other side, as all the +girls rose. + +Leaving Elise in her seat, the Scouts formed in double ranks at a +distance of forty inches between ranks and an interval of sixty inches +between patrols. + +The eight girls who formed a patrol took their places in groups as +signified by the crosses. + + Patrol Patrol Patrol + XXXX XXXX XXXX + XXXX XXXX XXXX + Captain X X Lieutenant + +Elise found out afterward that number one in the front rank of each +patrol is the Patrol leader, and number four the Corporal. + +At the command "Company, attention!" from the little Captain, now +standing so straight and so stern that Elise scarcely recognized her, +the Company as a whole stiffened to attention. + +The Lieutenant, a tall, pretty girl of nineteen, then commanded, +"Corporals from Patrols!" and the three Corporals stepped forward two +paces, made two right turns, and stood facing the center of the patrol. +The Corporals then snapped out together, "Attention! Right Dress!" after +which they faced left, took two paces, made right turn, right face, and +looked critically down the line to see that it was perfectly straight. +After two short left steps to straighten the rear line, they faced +right, took four paces forward, and with two right turns got back in +position facing patrol and called the command "Front! Count off!" + +The Corporals then one after the other called the roll of her Patrol, +and finishing that, turned and reported to the Lieutenant that the +Patrol was formed, after which they returned to their places in the +ranks, and the Lieutenant, saluting the Captain, reported, "Captain, the +Company is formed." + +Inspection then followed. Each girl, saluting, stepped forward and her +hair, teeth, hands, nails, shoes and general appearance was scrutinized. + +Elise watched all this with great interest, interest which deepened as +the Captain commanded "Color guard, march!" and three girls stepped from +the ranks and stood side by side for a moment, then at a word of command +marched to the flag. There they saluted and marched back; when the +Captain and the Lieutenant faced about, and the Captain in her silvery +voice said: + +"The Flag of your Country; pledge allegiance!" + +With one voice the girls united in the beautiful pledge to the flag, "I +pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the republic for which it stands; +one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." + +Elise looked at the silken folds of the glorious red, white and blue +with tears in her eyes. How glad she was to make that pledge! Had not +that flag, the flag that was now her own, floated over the shell-racked +fields of France? Oh, she _loved_ it! + +The color guard returned, and the fresh young voices rose in the first +verse of America. + +"Scouts, your promise!" said the Captain. + + "To do my duty to God and to my country. + To help other people at all times. + To obey the laws of the Scouts." + +the voices rang out. + +"The laws!" said the Captain. + +Again the chorus of girls repeated: + + A Girl Scout's honor is to be trusted. + A Girl Scout is loyal. + A Girl Scout's duty is to be useful, and help others. + A Girl Scout is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Girl Scout. + A Girl Scout is courteous. + A Girl Scout keeps herself pure. + A Girl Scout is a friend to animals. + A Girl Scout obeys orders. + A Girl Scout is cheerful. + A Girl Scout is thrifty. + +"Dismissed!" said the little Captain and, breaking ranks, the girls went +to their seats where they sat talking in low tones until the sharp sound +of the Lieutenant's whistle called them to attention again. + +"Now I do come," said Elise to herself, and her heart commenced to +hammer in quite an alarming fashion. But it was not quite time for her +to rise. Looking at Rosanna, she saw her give a slight shake of the +head, and Elise leaned back in her seat while all the business of the +meeting was settled and plans made for some aid for a poor family living +near. + +One thing Elise noticed particularly. The girls present were widely +different in looks, and Elise with her delicate perceptions saw plainly +that they belonged in widely differing classes, so called. A few of the +girls, Rosanna among them, had the carefully cared for and delicately +nurtured look of the very rich. More were like Helen, clean, carefully +groomed and almost precise in her dress and accessories. Others were +very evidently poor, with rough little hands that already told the story +of hard work and few toilet creams. But whoever they were, they saw no +difference in each other. They were Girl Scouts in the fullest and best +sense of the word: sisters pledged to each other, and living up to that +pledge in all earnestness and honor. + +Elise, waiting for her summons to go forward, and understanding nothing +of the business that was going on, threw her thoughts backward. She saw +herself the idolized child of the gay, rich young couple in the great +château, where long painted lines of powdered and frilled and armor-clad +ancestors looked down at her from the long galleries, and where dozens +of willing servants danced to do her bidding. Then the picture changed, +and with the roll of drums and the thunder of cannon she saw the hated +foe march across her land, destroying as they came. Father, mother, +grandmother, home, riches; all went down as under a devouring tide. Then +the promises of her Monsieur Bob, and after long, long weary days spent +with the ladies of the Red Cross came the journey into the Unknown, that +trip across an ocean that was to forever separate her from a past that +was too terrible for a little girl to have known. + +To have found refuge in Mrs. Hargrave's tender arms, to have won such +love and such friends--to be able to be a Girl Scout-- + +Elise turned her eyes, brimming with sudden tears, to the flag. + +"Never, _never_ will I zem disappoint!" she whispered tenderly, using as +best she could the unfamiliar words of her adopted tongue. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +At last Elise saw the Captain glance in her direction as the whistle +blew once more for attention and the Captain commanded, "Fall in!" A +look of serious interest appeared on the faces of the girls as they +formed in a horseshoe, the Captain and the Lieutenant standing in the +gap and the American flag spread out before them. + +Elise, with Helen beside her, walked to a place just inside the circle +and stood facing the Captain. In the Lieutenant's hands were the staff +and hat, the shoulder knot, badge and neckerchief of the Tenderfoot +Elise. + +She could not refrain from a glance at them. How she had longed to wear +all those things; the insignia of everything she had learned to admire +and look up to in the girls of America! + +"Salute!" said the Captain. + +All saluted Elise, who stood waiting for some order, she did not know +what. + +"Forward!" said the Captain to Helen, and the two girls stepped to the +center. + +Regarding Elise with a long, careful glance, and speaking carefully, so +the little French girl should miss nothing of the full meaning of her +words, the Captain asked: + +"Do you know what your _honor_ means?" + +"Yess," said Elise, finding her voice after what seemed to her an +endless time. "Yess, it does mean that always I shall be trusted to be +faithful and true and honorable." + +"Can I trust you," asked the Captain, "on your honor, to be loyal to God +and your country, to help other people at all times, and to obey the +Scout Law?" + +Elise, coached by Helen and Rosanna, made the half salute in unison with +the whole company, as she answered, "I do promise on my honor to be +loyal to God and my country, to help other people at all times and to +obey the Scout Law." + +"I trust you on your honor to keep this promise," answered the Captain. + +The circle of girls listened with respectful and solemn interest. Well +they realized that the vow being given was not an empty or idle one. +They knew that it entailed hard work, self-denial, and many hardships. +Yet they gloried in it, and silently renewed their own vows as they +heard the Tenderfoot make her promises. + +"Invest!" came the Captain's next order. + +Stepping forward, the Lieutenant gave Elise her staff, and put the hat, +handkerchief and knot on her, and smiled as Elise said, "I thank you!" +in her pretty way. + +Then, at a whispered word, she marched up the line to the Captain who +pinned on her trefoil badge and explained that it was an emblem of her +Scout "life." If for any misbehavior, the trefoil or "life" must be +taken away from her, she would become a dead Scout for the time the +Captain ordered and for that time in disgrace. + +The new Scout was then initiated into all the secret passwords, a +proceeding which filled Elise with despair; she felt that she would +never be able to remember the queer words and phrases. + +Then with the ceremony of marching back to their proper patrols the +ceremony was over, and in a moment the formal meeting was dismissed. + +The girls crowded around, all anxious to meet the new Tenderfoot and +welcome her. They talked to her so hard that Elise felt her head whirl. +She was glad to hear the voice of the little Captain suggesting a song. +She handed a leaflet to Elise, but the girls knew the songs, and +gathering in a circle they wanted to know which one to sing. + +"Sing _The Long, Long Line_," suggested the Captain, and the girls sang: + + THE LONG, LONG LINE + + (Tune: The Long, Long Trail) + + Recruiting song. + + Do you feel a little lonely? + Are your friends too few? + Would you like to join some jolly girls + In the things you think and do? + Don't you know your Country's waiting? + Have you heard her call? + See, the Scouts are crowding, crowding in, + Where there's room for one and all! + + Chorus + + There's a long, long line a-growing, + From north to south, east to west, + There's a place awaiting in it, too, that you'll fill best. + We are sure you'd like to join us + If you knew what we can do + And we'd like, O how we'd like to make a good Girl Scout of you. + +It certainly sounded sweet as the fresh young voices blended, and Elise +thrilled as she listened. She was having such a good time! All the girls +seemed so friendly and so sweet, with the exception of one girl who hung +back and on whose face there rested the shadow of discontent and +dissatisfaction. Elise found herself wondering about her; she seemed so +out of place in that happy, merry throng. But none of the other girls +appeared to notice that one of their number sat apart and occupied +herself rather ostentatiously over a book. + +They were all so busy making the evening pass pleasantly for the +charming new Tenderfoot who responded so prettily to their advances that +no one spoke or looked at the silent Scout, but presently Elise noticed +that the little Captain sat down beside her and compelled her attention. +Even then the girl looked as though she preferred to be let alone. + +For a long while, the girls sat and told Elise about their work and play +and the camping in summer and the delightful hikes all the year. Finally +it came time to go home and some one called for another song. + +"Which shall it be, Elise?" asked Helen. "You choose one of the songs." + +"I see one follows the air of the _Old Colored Joe_," said Elise. "I do +know that loving song. Please to sing that; and if I may, I will try to +sing it also." + +"Of course we will sing that, you dear," laughed the tall young +Lieutenant, and together they sang: + + WE'RE COMING + + (Tune: Old Black Joe) + + Camping Song. + + I + + Come where the lake lies gleaming in the sun; + Come where the days are filled with work and fun. + Come where the moon hangs out her evening lamp; + The Scouts are trooping, trooping, trooping back to camp. + + Chorus + + We're coming! We're coming! To the lakes, the hills, the sea! + Old Mother Nature calls her children--you and me. + + II + + Come where we learn the wisdom of the wood; + Come where we prove that simple things are good, + Come where we pledge allegiance to our land; + America, you've called your daughters--here we stand. + + Chorus + + We're coming! We're coming! 'Til we spread from sea to sea, + Our country needs us--wants us--calls us--you and me! + +"That is so _most_ lovely," said Elise as the song was finished, never +for a moment realizing that her own pure and bell-like voice had added +richness and beauty to the song. + +The other girls looked at each other and smiled. Here was indeed a find. +Never had there come a Scout to the council with such a wonderful voice. +They felt that the pretty young Tenderfoot was a great acquisition to +their number. So they all crowded around and said good night,--all but +the silent Scout who had not joined in the jollity. Elise and Rosanna +and Helen filled the two automobiles that were waiting for them with the +girls. Never, never had those big cars been so crowded. Certainly they +had never held happier passengers. But there was no noise or +boisterousness, no singing or whistling. The girls chatted in tones that +were agreeably low and as each one reached her destination, she thanked +Rosanna or Elise. When the last passenger in the Hargrave car had been +set down, Elise leaned back in a corner and thought deeply. She was +happy beyond words. + +To do good to someone every day; that was part of her pledge. Such an +easy part! But it was hard _not_ to be good when everyone was so good to +her. Then suddenly she thought of the sulky face of the girl at the +meeting. + +All the time she was telling Mrs. Hargrave about the installation and +the songs, and trying them over for her, she saw the dark, discontented +face before her. She could not feel perfectly happy because somehow the +face seemed to send her a message. "Help me; help me!" Elise heard in +her soul. But what could she, a stranger, a girl who could scarcely +speak the new language, what _could_ she do for that girl? And besides, +why did she _need_ help? Elise, whose bright eyes saw everything, had +noted the beautiful silk stockings, the texture of the black hair +ribbon, and at the last, the expensive fur that edged her coat. Also a +car had come for her, in which she went off alone. It was not poverty, +at all events, decided Elise. She could walk; she was not lame like the +poor little blond in the corner. As Elise thought it over, she puzzled +more and more. She decided to ask Rosanna or Helen next day; then a +better decision came to her. She would find out for herself. No one +should tell her. Then if she made any mistake, why, the mistake would be +hers. + +But the next day but one the plot thickened. She went over with Rosanna +to see Miss Hooker about some Scout work, and as they stood on the steps +waiting for the door to open, it did open with a jerk, and the girl +Elise had been worrying about dashed down the steps and into her +limousine. Her face was disfigured with tears. + +"Dear me!" said Rosanna. "What do you suppose has happened to Lucy +Breen? She has been crying." + +"Assuredly. The _petite pauvre_ one!" answered Elise sadly. + +Rosanna with her usual directness asked Miss Hooker the moment they +entered what was the matter with Lucy. + +Miss Hooker hesitated. "You really ought not ask a question like that, +Rosanna," she said finally, "but perhaps I ought to tell you. You will +all have to know." + +"Please _don't_ tell me, Miss Hooker," Rosanna begged with a deep flush. +"I thought perhaps someone had died or something like that." + +"No, but for a week Lucy must be a dead Scout herself." + +"How _awful_!" cried both girls, and then were silent. + +"I prefer not to tell you why just now, but of course this will not make +you shun her. You must show all the kindness and consideration that you +can for her, and be with her all you can." More than that Miss Hooker +did not seem to want to say, and the girls, saddened and quiet, finished +their errand and left. + +A day or two later, going with Mrs. Hargrave to the Red Cross rooms down +town, Elise thought she saw Lucy Breen shrink out of sight behind some +portières at the back of the store that the Red Cross used as a sales +room. + +Elise acted on a generous impulse. She went back through the store +looking at one thing and another until she in turn came to the +portières. Behind them was a space used for a sort of store-room for +articles brought into the shop, and as Elise looked curiously through +the curtains as though wondering what lay beyond, she saw Lucy standing +in a corner, crowded against the wall. Elise nodded gaily. + +"Are you what they call making the sort of things in here, Lucy?" she +cried. "Is it not fun to see what the good kind people give away?" + +She stepped into the store-room as she spoke, smiling and nodding. "Yes, +it is droll, some of the things," she chattered on, as though Lucy was +doing her share in the conversation. Finally, however, like a little +clock, Elise ran down. She could not think of a single thing to say +further, and she trailed off, looking shyly into Lucy's dark face. + +Lucy was smiling a set and bitter smile. + +"Don't you think you had better get out of this and leave me?" she +asked. "Perhaps you don't know that I have lost my badge. I shall be a +dead Scout for a week, and I don't care in the least whether I ever wear +it again or not." + +Elise came close and laid a hand on Lucy's shoulder, but the girl shook +it off. + +"_Don't!_" she said pettishly. + +"I knew that you had resigned your badge for the so small time of a +week," said Elise gently, "but one week soon passes." + +"Do you know _why_ I lost it?" asked Lucy harshly. + +"No," said Elise, "and I do not so much care. That is for you to know, +and our dear Captain. I am just so so sorry that you are unhappy. But +you will be happy again. Always unhappiness goes away. We do not forget, +but it ceases to wound. And if the fault makes you so unhappy, why, +certainly you will never, never so do again; will you, dear Lucy?" + +To her surprise and dismay, Lucy turned and, hiding her face in her +arms, leaned against the cracked old wall and sobbed. + +"Oh, I _am_ unhappy!" she cried. "I am unhappy, and I don't know what to +do! Sometimes I think I will run away!" + +"Oh, don't do that; don't do that!" cried Elise. "Think of your dear +mama and your father. Oh, you could never have a fault that would make +you need to do anything that would make them so unhappy!" + +Lucy laughed her bitter little laugh. + +"I think I will tell you what has happened," she said, "and then you can +see just how I feel." + +"Can you not tell to someone more wise than I?" asked Elise, her dismay +growing. "I will be so glad to listen, but for advice, I am so ignorant, +so what you call it? I speak your English so poorly, that maybe I say to +you the wrong thing." + +"You needn't say anything," said Lucy. "You were so good to come and +speak to me, and I want to talk to someone. I had advice from Miss +Hooker but I shall not take it." + +"Was it not good advice?" asked Elise, who thought every word that Miss +Hooker uttered was a pearl of wisdom. + +"I suppose so," said Lucy with a sneer, "but she does not understand. +Oh, Elise, I shall _die_, I am so unhappy." + +"No," said Elise softly, "you will not die so. If it could be, I would +be dead long since but I am not, and I am happy--so very, very happy +just as my most dear ones who are dead would wish me to be. So it will +be with you." + +"I want to talk to you," said Lucy. + +"Let us sit here then," said Elise, "where no one comes. There is a what +you call 'meeting' which my maman is here to attend. It goes on in the +upstairs, and she told me it would meet for an hour or two. Tell me all +your woe." + +She pulled Lucy down on a pile of velvet curtains and patting her hot +little hand, said softly, "I wait." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +"When I was only two years old, my real mamma died," Lucy commenced, +"and papa's sister, who was a great deal older than papa, came to take +care of us. I had a brother five years older than I. Aunt Mabel was so +kind to us, and let us do just as we pleased about everything. I don't +see why things could not have gone on like that always, because as soon +as I grew up I intended to take charge of the house and run it for papa. +I am thirteen now so it wouldn't have been long before I could have done +it. But when I was ten years old, my brother died, and after that, papa +stayed away from the house all he could, although Auntie Mabel was +always talking to him about his duty to me. + +"Well, one day, when I was eleven years old, papa came home, and the +very minute I saw his face I knew something had happened. + +"'Goodness, papa,' I said, 'you look as though you had had good news!' +'I have, my dear,' he said, and then somehow as I looked at him I had +such a funny feeling. All at once I didn't want to _know_ what made him +look so glad. So I just sat there and said nothing. + +"'Don't you want to know what it is?' he said, and I said, 'I don't know +whether I do or not.' + +"Papa came over and put his head down on my shoulder the way he used to +when he called me his little comforter, and said, 'Oh, yes, Lucy, you +want to know! Please say you want to know what your daddy has to tell +you.' + +"So I said, 'All right,' and Elise, he was going to get married! Oh, I +just hated it! He told me lots about the lady. She was from Boston, and +that was why I had never seen her, and had never heard about it. She had +never been in Louisville. He said she was beautiful, and she did look +nice in the picture he had in his pocket case, and he said she was just +as lovely as she could be. I just sat there and let him talk, and +finally he said, 'Well, chicken, what do you think about it?' I don't +know what made me say what I did. Somehow it popped out before I +thought. I said, 'Are you sure she isn't marrying you for your money?' + +"And papa sort of stiffened up and looked hard at me, and finally he +said in a queer voice, 'Good Lord, how old are you?' I said, 'I am +eleven,' and he said, 'Well, you sound like Mrs. Worldly Wiseman, aged +fifty. I suppose you will feel better if I say that the lady has more +money than I have, and that I will be lucky if people do not claim that +_I_ have been the fortune hunter.' + +"'Well, what _is_ she going to marry you for?' I asked. 'She says she +loves me,' papa said. I said, 'We don't want her here! We are getting +along all right.' Oh, I didn't mean to be so ugly, but somehow I _hated_ +to have papa marry anyone, and I didn't know this lady. So papa went off +awfully cross at me and the next person was Auntie Mabel. Papa had told +me first; he thought he ought to, and then he went up and told Aunt +Mabel. She came down pretty soon. I was right there in the big chair, +trying to imagine what it would be like to have a stranger in the house. + +"Auntie said, 'Well, Lucy, what do you think of the news?' I said, 'It +is nothing to us; we can keep in our rooms most of the time.' + +"'I can't,' said Aunt Mabel, 'because I shall leave when she comes. Not +that I have the slightest objection, but all the same off I go. I knew +it would happen sooner or later, but Henry waited so long that I hoped +he was going to let well enough alone. But men are all alike!' And she +_did_ go, Elise, the very day before papa brought the lady home. And I +_couldn't_ go because there was no place for me to go and Auntie +wouldn't take me with her because she said it would make papa angry. So +I had to stay whether I wanted to or not. It was perfectly awful!" + +"Poor, poor Lucee!" murmured Elise, patting the hand she held. + +"I was expecting to see a lady 'most as old as Auntie, and papa came up +the steps with somebody _young_. Why, she was _awfully_ young, and had +as much powder on her nose as anybody. I was looking through the +curtains, and when I saw them coming, I ran upstairs and hid. Papa +hunted and called, but I wouldn't answer, and I heard him getting angry, +and then she said, 'Don't mind, Henry; it is the most natural thing in +the world. Let me find her, I know just where to look,' and papa said in +the silliest way, 'Go ahead, darling, the house is yours, and the child +too if you will have such a bad one.' + +"Well, Elise, she came up those stairs and straight to the table I was +under, as though someone had told her! The cover went down to the floor, +and she lifted it up, and said 'Coop!' but I came out crosser than ever, +and we had a horrid time. + +"So that is the way it went. Worse and worse all the time. Papa was not +cross with me because she wouldn't let him be, and I felt pretty mean to +think a stranger had to tell my own father how to treat me. At first she +tried to act so sweet to me, and used to want to play with me. I told +her I thought it was silly, but she said she had lots of brothers and +sisters, and they always romped around together and had a fine time, and +she said if I would only be friends we could have such larks. I told her +I hoped I was polite and all she said was to wonder where I got my +disposition. + +"At first they used to make me stay down with them at night after +dinner, but by and by I was allowed to go upstairs. I said I wanted to +study. I always kept a study book open on the table, and would go to +reading it as soon as they came up. Papa used to come in once in awhile, +and she was always asking me if she could help me with my lessons. She +said she used to help her brothers. + +"After a year, one of the brothers came to visit. He was a real nice +boy, and I would have liked him only he was so silly about her; used to +want to be with her all the time, and put his arm around her and all +that! We had a real good time though, and I thought that I had been real +nice to her before him until the day he went home. I was in the library, +and he came in. I was just going to ask him to put his autograph in my +album when he said: 'Gee, you are a disagreeable little mutt! My sister +would half kill me for saying it, but honest, I don't see how she stands +you!' + +"Of course I just walked out of the room. I knew then that she had been +telling things about me. And I knew that must be the reason why papa was +so different to me." + +"But _was_ he?" asked Elise wonderingly. + +"Yes, he was, and Miss Hooker says it is all my fault. I had been coldly +polite to her for a good while before that. I read about a girl who was +abused by a stepmother and the girl was too noble to abuse her in +return. She was just 'coldly polite,' the book said, and so was I. But +after that horrid boy went home I let myself be as mean as I could." + +Elise nodded. "I saw it in your face," she said. + +"And the more I thought of it, the more I was able to _act_ ugly. It is +so funny, Elise, the way she makes everybody like her. Papa just gets +worse all the time, and the servants _adore_ her, and she is so popular +with all the people who come to the house. She makes them all like +her--all but me." + +"We will talk about that later," said Elise. + +Lucy sighed. "Well, things have been getting worse and worse, but I +think we have both tried to keep it from papa. We hate each other, but +we don't want him to know how bad things are in the house. Papa is not +happy, though. Oh, he has talked and talked to me and threatened to send +me to school, and I always tell him I wish he would. But the other day +the worst happened. Papa had gone to the office, and I was reading in +the library, and she was walking around and around, fussing and singing +under her breath and sort of acting happy. It made me so mad. Presently +she saw me looking at her, and she said, 'Don't you wonder why I am +singing?' and I said, 'No, I had not noticed.' She went right on: 'I +have had some good news, wonderful news, and I wonder if you would like +to hear it, Lucy?' + +"I said, 'I am not at all interested,' and went right on looking at my +book. She came over and leaned down on the table close to my face, and +stared and stared at me. She said, 'Look at me, you bad, difficult, +cruel child, look at me and tell me why you are bound to hate me so!' I +never saw anyone look so angry. Then her face changed and got pleasant +again, and she said, 'What have I _done_? Your own mother, if she can +see this house and its unhappy inmates, knows that I have tried to make +friends with you.' + +"I remembered how furious the girl in the book was when her stepmother +spoke of her mother, and I raised my hand and slapped her." + +"Oh, oh, oh!" cried Elise, covering her eyes. "The poor, poor lady!" + +Lucy went doggedly on. + +"Of course I had no business to do that. She went to her room, and +stayed there all day, and when papa came home he went right up. I was on +my way to my room, and I heard him say, 'I don't believe it is a +headache at all. I think Lucy must have been annoying you,' and she +said, 'No,' and papa said, 'I shall send that child away to school.' And +she said, 'No, give us one more chance. I am going to see Miss Hooker, +her Scout Captain, and see if her influence is strong enough to make +Lucy see things in the right way.' As soon as I heard that I made up my +mind to see the Captain first, so I went over and that was the day I saw +you on the steps. We had had a long, long talk and she said I was all +wrong and took away my trefoil. So here I am a dead Scout, and I am so +unhappy that I don't know what to do and I am going to run away. I want +you to have my pony. I am going to send it over to your house tomorrow." + +"No, no, no!" cried Elise. "Everything is wrong; so wrong! Oh, let me +think! That poor, poor lady! I am so, so sorry for her." + +"Sorry for _her_!" cried Lucy. "There is no need to be sorry for _her_! +I am the one to be sorry for. _She_ has everything." + +"Why has she?" asked Elise. "She has nothing that you have not. She has +your most dear papa; so have you. You both have a most lovely home, +everything beautiful, friends, comfort. You are safe in a great land, +where no enemy may come and keel all you love. You have both the same +things. You share them." She sat thinking. "Yes, she is the one to be +sorry for, because she is so disappoint. When she go to marry your +_père_, she have something promised that she never gets and so she is +full of mournsomeness." + +"She has everything papa can get for her," said Lucy bitterly. "I wish +you could see the pearls he gave her the other day." + +"Pearls!" said Elise scornfully. "What are pearls? He promised her +something only _you_ could give her, and now she has it not, and she is +sad, and you are sad; everybody sad. What do you call her?" + +"I don't call her anything," said Lucy stubbornly. "I wait until she +looks at me and then I say what I want to say." + +"Foolish, foolish one," said Elise, "That is what no one likes. Besides, +it is what you call rude not to speak the name. Most rude!" She saw a +frown deepen on Lucy's brow and gently pressed her hand. + +"You wanted to tell me, did you not?" she said softly. "Now I want to +tell you what I have not so many times told because I cannot speak of it +unless my heart feels like it does bleed. I have had _such_ sorrows, and +have seen such dreadfulness; I have been so cold, and hongry, and +frightened. I have lived in the wet underground for so long time that +all this makes a differentness in me from you. Something in me feels +most old and weary. I keep it shut up because my darling Maman Hargrave +wants me a happy child, and I want it for myself, but I do feel the +oldness when I see others unhappy when they could so easily be full of +joy. No, let me talk!" she added, as Lucy tried to speak. + +"I must say this, I feel it on me, to save that poor lady her happiness. +I shall be sorry for you some other day, but now I am most sad for her. +When she marry your papa, she think all the time that she is going to +have a most sweet daughter because that is how your dear papa would tell +her of you, and then what happens? You know. + +"Oh, Lucee, dear, _dear_ Lucee, there is one thing you must give to her, +right now today quick." + +"What is that?" said Lucy, startled by Elise's vehemence. + +"_LOVE!_" cried Elise, her sweet voice thrilling. "Love! So easy, so +sweet! Please, my Lucee, do not turn away. I know I am right on account +of the oldness in my heart. That tells me. Think how most glad your own +mother is to have the pretty one taking such good care of your papa and +of you. Does she select your clothes?" + +"Yes," said Lucy. + +"They are always the prettiest," said Elise. "No other girl is so +chic--what you call stunning. And so modest, so quiet. And you yourself +say everyone but you loves her. You too must love her, and the best of +all. You _must_! You are a Scout, and so you do always the right thing. +Where is she now?" + +"Home, I suppose. I came down to bring some of my last winter's dresses. +Oh, Elise, even if I could, it is too late. I _can't_ go back to the +beginning again and start over." + +"Of course not," said Elise wisely. "It is a most bad waste of time when +we try going back to beginnings. It is better to start right from here. +_Anywhere_ is the best place to start. When you go home you start then! +You start here by making some new sweet thoughts in your heart. Dear +Lucee, please try! Please, for the sake of your Elise who also has to +try to be always happy and not remember those blackness behind her. +Won't you, please? I know I am right. Will you try to give her love?" + +Lucy, the tears pouring down her cheeks, leaned her head against the +shoulder near her. + +"I don't see how I _can_," she said huskily. "But I will try. I am so +sick of everything the way it is." + +"Of course you are!" said Elise. "One is always seek of wrong. It makes +a blackness over everything." + +"What will I do? How will I begin?" + +"I cannot tell you," said Elise. "You will know what to do. Something +will tell you. Something always tells. I think it is _le bon Dieu_. Just +trust and you will know what to do and to say. Come, let us go. I hear +the meeting talking itself down the stairs. Is your car waiting?" + +"Yes," said Lucy dully as she allowed Elise to lead her through the +store. "Oh, Elise, I _don't_ love her, and I don't know what to do!" + +"It is because of the hatefulness you put in your heart long ago that +you do not love her," said the wise, sad little girl who had suffered +beyond her years. She stood at the door of the limousine and smiled at +the little girl who sank back so wearily. + +"Don't forget it is _now_ we make those beginnings. And you owe her what +your dear papa promised her, your love." She stepped back with a wave of +her hand as the machine started away. + +Lucy's heart throbbed violently as she approached her home. Her one hope +was that Mrs. Breen was out, so the moment might be delayed. But as she +passed the door of the library she saw Mrs. Breen lying in a low +lounging chair. How pale she looked! Lucy was quite startled to see the +look of suffering and weakness on the beautiful young face. She had been +too blind to notice what had been worrying her father of late. Was it +_her_ fault? Had _her_ actions brought her self-made enemy so low? Lucy +was shocked. + +She went up and put away her wraps. Still she did not know what to do or +what to say. Twice she passed the library door. No thought came to her. +She went in, not speaking, and selected a book at random from the +nearest shelf. Mrs. Breen did not speak but her great blue eyes seemed +to follow Lucy appealingly. Then Lucy found her courage. What she said +was rough and crude but it came from the heart--an honest statement and +appeal for tolerance and understanding. She came, clutching her book, +and stood facing Mrs. Breen. + +Her voice sounded so husky and shaken that she did not know it for hers. + +"Mamma," she said, stumbling over the unfamiliar word. "Mamma, you know +I do not like you, but I am going to try to love you!" + +And then, clasping her book with both hands, she fled. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Years had passed before Mrs. Breen and Lucy ever found the courage to +speak of that day when Lucy had hurried from the room, leaving Mrs. +Breen too surprised to follow her, or even speak. She sat thinking, so +glad and so happy and so proud of the courage shown by Lucy. She heard +the front door close softly and was not surprised, a little later, to +have one of the maids come and tell her that Miss Lucy had telephoned +that she was at Mrs. Hargrave's, and would stay for supper with Elise. + +Mrs. Breen sat thinking for an hour, then the right thought came to her. +She hastened to the telephone and had a long talk with her husband, and +after a good deal of argument, she went to her room, packed a small +trunk, ordered the car, had a talk with the housekeeper, and went out. +She drove to her husband's office, and he ushered her into his private +room. + +"Now what is all this?" he demanded. + +"I told you over the telephone what happened in the library," Mrs. Breen +said. "My dear, I am _so_ happy and so proud of Lucy! But there will be +the most distressing awkwardness for a little, unless something out of +the ordinary happens to help her out. Now I have never been away without +you since we were married. So I have decided to give the child a chance +to regain her poise and strengthen her new resolutions. Something has +changed her, and I am contented to accept it without question until the +time comes when she will tell me of her own accord. I will go home for a +week, and you must spend all the time you can with Lucy. And when you +feel like it, speak well of me." + +"That will be a hard job," said her husband, smiling. + +"I suppose so," said Mrs. Breen. "Another thing, to keep her interest in +me, if you should decide to repaper my room and want to _surprise_ me, I +would be perfectly satisfied with Lucy's taste." + +So when Lucy came in that night, dreading the next step toward the +right, she found only her father reading under the library light. + +"Hello, Donna Lucia," he said, looking up. "Did you know that we are +orphans?" + +"No," said Lucy. "What has happened?" + +"Mamma decided very suddenly that she had to go home to Boston to attend +to some matters, and she did not have time to telephone you or call +around at Mrs. Hargrave's. But she managed to stop in at the office, and +she has left me in your charge." + +Lucy heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, she would have a little +time to herself anyway. + +A couple of days later Mr. Breen approached the subject of the new +wall-paper. He merely _approached_ it, because at the first mention Lucy +fairly flung herself on it and appropriated it. The very thing, she +decided. She thought that room was about as shabby as it could be. Could +she select the paper? Of course she could! She knew exactly what mamma +would like. + +At her use of the word mamma, Mr. Breen's heart leaped. He had been a +patient, but very unhappy man, and the thought that his little household +might become united was the greatest happiness he could imagine. So he +grumbled out that he was glad of that, because he never could tell the +_least_ thing about the silly strips of paper they showed in the stores, +and Lucy could go ahead and get whatever she wanted. + +But the following morning, when a van backed up to the door and a couple +of men commenced to take away all the prettiest wicker furniture in the +house he demanded some explanation. + +"Why, they have to be painted for mamma's new room," said the practical +Miss Breen. "You said I could go ahead, and I have gone!" + +"All our furniture has gone too, I should say," said Mr. Breen. + +"Just the best of the wicker," answered Lucy. "I thought and thought all +last night, and I have decided just what would be the _loveliest_ thing +in the world for her, with her violet blue eyes and golden hair. So when +you were shaving I telephoned for the men to come and take the chairs +and tables and that chaise-longue and they are all going to be painted. + +"And today you had better write her that you think it would be a good +thing, as long as she is there, to stay another week. Don't let her +suspect, but _don't_ let her come home." + +"Very well," said Mr. Breen with a twinkle in his eye, but outwardly +very meek. "Just as you say. Send the bills to me." + +"Oh, I was going to," said Lucy with the happiest laugh he had heard +from her for months. + +Mr. Breen did not come home for luncheon, and every day Lucy managed to +have Elise or Rosanna or Helen take that meal with her. + +Lucy worked like mad and nearly wore the workmen out, she hurried them +so. Mrs. Breen decided to make a longer stay, but even then there was +but little time, because Lucy had decided that all the woodwork must be +re-enameled. When that was done and the paper on, she cast aside the old +rug with scorn, and took the three girls downtown to buy others. As the +days went on, Lucy found that her point of view was wholly changed. She +was so intent on the beautiful surprise she was planning that it seemed +to sweep her mind clean of all the dark and unworthy feelings that had +filled it. She even wrote to Mrs. Breen at a suggestion from Elise, a +pleasant friendly letter, ending, "With love, Lucy." + +And to her surprise Mrs. Breen answered the letter at once, with a long +one all about her visit, and enclosing funny little cartoons of each one +of the family, including the boy who had spoken his mind to Lucy. +Strange to say, Lucy was able to acknowledge the truth of the young +man's remark. + +"Some day," said Lucy to herself, "if this turns out all right, I will +tell him that he was _perfectly right_." + +Lucy was coming to think, with a sense of deep chagrin, that she herself +had been the one in the wrong. And being an honest girl and wanting very +humbly and deeply to live up to the pledge of the Girl Scouts, she was +growing most anxious to make good her faults. + +So she drove the painters and paperhangers and upholsterers almost wild, +and had the happiness of seeing the beautiful room all settled and in +order two days before Mrs. Breen was expected. It had a hard time +staying settled however, because Lucy spent all her time after school +trying things in new places to see if they looked any better. Her father +vowed that he would go up and nail the things down, but he was just as +proud and pleased as Lucy. + +With all the planning and plotting, and various jaunts to the shops +together, and to some movies and once to the theatre, Lucy and her +father had entered a new epoch in their lives. They too seemed to have +forgotten the past. + +As Elise said, they found that they could make a beginning anywhere. And +once begun, they found that it was like a door that had opened into a +beautiful place full of happiness and sunshine--a door that closed +softly behind them and shut out all the despair and gloom on the other +side. + +When the day came for Mrs. Breen's return, Mr. Breen insisted on Lucy +coming to meet her, and Lucy, in whom some of the old dread seemed +struggling to awake, went silently. But when she was suddenly caught in +a warm embrace, before even her father was greeted, and when a sweet +voice said, "Oh, what a _long_ two weeks it has been, Lucy! _Do_ say you +have missed me!" Lucy felt that all was indeed well with her world. + +Mrs. Breen had brought another brother with her: a shy, awkward boy, +evidently frightened to death of Lucy, a fact which of course set her +completely at her ease. They drove home, and Lucy and her father dogged +Mrs. Breen's footsteps up the stairs when she said she would go and take +off her things. Not for worlds would they have missed seeing her first +look at the newly decorated room. And it was worth all the trouble to +witness her delight and appreciation. + +So Happiness and Love and Understanding came into the Breen home. Lucy +wore her trefoil with a new gratitude and a new understanding. Elise +felt a happiness that she had thought she could never feel, for she had +helped a sister Scout through a dark and dreadful place in her life. +Mrs. Breen was so happy that she sang and sang all the day long, and +when one day a baby boy set up a lusty roar in the beautiful room that +Lucy had made, it was Lucy who named him, and Lucy who assumed such airs +of superiority in speaking of "my baby brother" that the girls grew to +avoid the subject of children in general as it was sure to bring from +Lucy some anecdote to prove the vast superiority and beauty of the Breen +baby. + +Rosanna was happy too. Uncle Robert had been away longer than Rosanna +liked. She was surprised to find how much she missed Uncle Robert. And +much as she loved him, and wanted him to be happy, she decided that it +was really a good thing that he did _not_ care for girls. The various +uncles who did like girls she noticed had a way of marrying one of them +and leaving home for good. That was a poor plan, thought Rosanna, as she +felt the silence in the big old house. No number of girls could make the +whistly noises Uncle Robert could when he ran upstairs three steps at a +time or dashed down again. No one but Uncle Robert could tootle so +entrancingly on the flute, or pick out such funny records for the +Victrola. No one in the world would think to bring one a box of candy +and leave it hidden in his hat, or just outside the door for one to find +after dinner. No other Uncle would remember a little girl's birthday +once a month with a new dollar bill. + +Rosanna, driven by a real loneliness to confide in someone, spent much +time with Miss Hooker and while Rosanna honestly thought she was +attending strictly to Scout business, the conversation was sure to slip +around to Uncle Robert. Miss Hooker never appeared to join Rosanna in +her talk, but it was surprising what a good listener she proved to be. +The only time she said anything was when Rosanna would enlarge on the +way Uncle Robert felt about girls. Then Miss Hooker would always assert +that she thought he was perfectly right, because she herself thought +very little of men. Silly creatures she said they were, at which loyal +Rosanna would always declare, "But Uncle Robert isn't." + +Miss Hooker would answer, "_Possibly_ not," in a manner that insinuated +that perhaps he wasn't, and perhaps he _was_, but Rosanna let it go. + +However, Rosanna was happy because Uncle Robert had written her that he +was coming home in a day or two, and that she might get ready to look in +the left hand pocket of his overcoat, and whatever was there she could +have. When she told Miss Hooker she was grieved to hear her say that she +was not sure that she would be around to see the surprise, because she +was planning to go away herself, and wasn't it too bad? + +"I should say it was!" said Rosanna. "Why, then you won't see Uncle +Robert either!" + +"No," said Miss Hooker, "but it really doesn't make any difference. I +don't suppose I am any more anxious to see him than he is to see me." + +When Uncle Robert appeared and came up the front steps three at a time +as usual, Rosanna was at the door to meet him. She jumped into his arms +and hugged him until he begged for mercy. + +As she let him go, she happened to think of the left hand pocket, and +had to think which was the left. While she was deciding, she heard a +funny noise, and there in the pocket was a fuzzy head. The most adorable +little head! It was a tiny baby collie, looking like a small bear. +Rosanna had him out in a second, and Uncle Robert left her with her new +pet while he went to speak to his mother. + +That night he came up to show Rosanna how to put her puppy to bed for +the night, and when the little fellow at last snuggled down in his +basket, and went to sleep, Uncle Robert settled down in his favorite +chair and lighted a cigarette and wanted to hear all the news. + +"What shall I start with?" asked Rosanna, listening to the soft +breathing of the little collie. + +"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Uncle Robert. "Begin with Miss--er +Gwenny." + +"Why, you needn't call her _Miss_," said Rosanna. "You never used to! I +thought first you were going to say begin with Miss Hooker." + +"Ridiculous!" laughed Uncle Robert, cocking his eye up at the ceiling. +"Begin with Gwenny, of course." + +"Well," said Rosanna, "we have only had two letters from her mother. One +was soon after you went away, and said that Gwenny was very comfortable +indeed, and had a fine room, and was making a great many friends. The +doctor couldn't tell when he would operate, because he would have to +take Gwenny any time she happened to be at her best. That was about all +of that letter. The next one was just the other day. And Uncle Robert, +they have operated! They telegraphed for Doctor Rick, and he is there +now. But Mrs. Harter wrote that the operation was over and Doctor +Branshaw thinks it will be perfectly successful." + +"Well, that is perfectly splendid!" said Uncle Robert. "Did she tell you +how Gwenny stood it?" + +"Yes. She said for a couple of hours they were afraid her heart was +going to stop, but that Doctor Branshaw stood right over her, and had +everything ready to start it again if they could. He stayed with her all +night. You ought to hear the way Mrs. Harter talks about him. She thinks +he is a saint, as well as the greatest doctor in the whole world." + +"He assays pretty well toward solid gold," said Uncle Robert. + +"Mrs. Harter says they don't know when they will be able to get home, +but already Gwenny sleeps better and is beginning to want to eat. She +never did, you know." + +"That is certainly fine news," said Uncle Robert. "Anything else +happened while I was away?" + +"You know that Lucy Breen?" asked Rosanna. + +Uncle Robert shook his head. + +"She has turned out to be a real nice girl, and Helen and Elise and I go +over there a lot. And her mother (it's really her stepmother, only Lucy +is mad if you call her that) is perfectly lovely. If you could only +marry _her_, Uncle Robert!" + +"Thank you, Rosanna, but Mr. Breen looks husky and he might object." + +"Oh, that was a joke," said Rosanna. "Like the time you said you pretty +near loved Miss Hooker. I wish you could have heard her laugh when I +told her that." + +"Oh, you told her, did you?" said Uncle Robert. + +"It was so funny I had to." + +"What did she say?" asked Uncle Robert, sitting up suddenly. + +"She said she thought you were the most amusing person she had ever met +and that no one could possibly take you seriously. I agreed with her." + +"I'll bet you did!" said Uncle Robert. + +"She has gone away," said Rosanna as an afterthought. "She went today. I +told her I was sorry she wouldn't be able to see what you brought me, +and wouldn't see you either, but she said it didn't make any difference +as she wasn't any more anxious to see you than she supposed you were to +see her." + +Uncle Robert laughed a short, queer laugh. + +"Well, Rosanna, just you watch what happens now! I will just pay her up +for that." + +"What do you care?" asked Rosanna. "I don't see what difference it +makes. She likes you all right; she thinks you are so funny." + +"I will show her how funny I can be," said Uncle Robert. "Where has she +gone?" + +"To Atlantic City," said Rosanna. + +"I may see her there," said Uncle Robert. "The doctor says the sea air +would be great for me." + +"What ails you?" said Rosanna anxiously. "You look perfectly well." + +"A little trouble with my heart," said Uncle Robert soberly. "It acts +like the very deuce, Rosanna. Part of the time it feels sort of--sort +of, well, sort of _empty_, and then it has spells when I get to thinking +hard and beats as fast as it can. It is awful, Rosanna." + +"I should say it was!" said Rosanna, "Oh, Uncle Robert, _do_ try to get +it well! If anything should happen to you, I would think it was that +benefit. You had to work so hard." + +"I think myself that had something to do with it," said Robert, "but of +course I only did my duty, and I don't blame a soul." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +There was a long silence during which Rosanna studied her uncle closely. +She even forgot the puppy. What if anything should happen to Uncle +Robert? As she looked at him it flashed over her that she cared for him +with all her heart. She would not know what to do without him. She felt +very sad, and when Uncle Robert looked up and surprised the worried +expression on her face he laughed, and said: + +"Cheer up, sweetness! I am all right, and I want you to promise me that +you won't tell mother what I have just told you. I don't want to worry +her." + +"I promise, Uncle Robert; and I always keep my promises," said Rosanna. + +"That is a good thing," said Uncle Robert. "I wish I had known that +before. I would have had you make me some." But he wouldn't explain that +remark, and soon went out, not seeming to care for the rest of the news +which, being all about the Scouts, Rosanna had left until the last as +the most important. + +The Girl Scouts were very busy now getting ready for Christmas. There +was a cast-iron rule in that particular troop that all Christmas +presents should be finished and wrapped up three weeks before Christmas. + +So with all their own work well out of the way, they were busy as bees +making tarleton stockings and collecting toys and dolls for the +particular orphanage they had assumed the care of. Louisville is full of +orphanages, and every year the girls were in the habit of choosing one +of them for their attention. They dressed a tree, and secured presents +for each of the children. These presents were often dolls and toys that +had been cast aside by more fortunate children, but the girls took them +and mended and painted and dressed them until you would have been +surprised at the result. At least they never offered anything that +looked shabby. The stockings were filled with popcorn and candy, and a +big golden orange gladdened each little heart. + +Rosanna worked harder than anyone. School went right on as it always +does whether or not Girl Scouts are busy at other things, and every +spare moment was spent with the dear little puppy that her uncle had +brought her. Mr. Horton still complained to Rosanna about his heart, but +was unable to go east as he had planned. He often asked Rosanna if Miss +Hooker had returned, although Rosanna had told him a good many times +that she did not expect to come back before spring. + +But news came from Gwenny. She was so much better that she could come +back. As Miss Hooker was away, and Uncle Robert always seemed to have +time to do things, the Girl Scouts made him a committee to go and pay +the doctor and the hospital bills, and see that Gwenny and her mother +reached home safely. + +Uncle Robert dashed off to Cincinnati that very night. The next day he +returned without Gwenny, and with a queer look on his face asked Rosanna +to ask their Lieutenant, who was in charge of the troop, to call a +meeting that very afternoon or evening. Rosanna called Miss Jamieson up, +and between them they were able to get word to all the girls. Rosanna +was as excited as any of them, because Uncle Robert would not tell her +what the matter was. When the girls all gathered in Rosanna's +sitting-room, he came in, looking very mysterious and important. + +"I have news for you girls--quite remarkable news, I think. To begin, I +went down to Cincinnati and found Gwenny so improved that I actually did +not know her. Of course she is still in a wheel chair, and will have to +stay there most of the time for the next year but every day she goes +through certain exercises, and soon will begin to take a few steps. +Doctor Branshaw assured me that she will some day be as well as any of +you. They have taught Mrs. Harter just how to rub her, and help her with +her exercises. + +"After I had seen Gwenny I went down and paid the hospital bill. It came +to a little over two hundred dollars. I have the items in my pocket. +Then I went to Doctor Branshaw's office, and asked him for his bill. He +said, 'Sit down. I want to have a talk with you.' Well, girls, he wanted +to know all about you, and the work you are doing, and how many there +are of you in the troop that is taking care of Gwenny. I told him about +the benefit, and he said he had heard about that from Gwenny, and her +mother as well. + +"I didn't want to bore him, so after we had talked you pretty well out, +and over, I asked him again for his bill, and he said, 'Horton, there is +no bill.' I said, 'Well, sir, whenever you will have it made out, I will +give a check for it. The money the girls made is banked in my name for +the sake of convenience.' + +"'How much is there?' asked the doctor. I thought he didn't want to +charge over the amount we have so I told him. He fiddled with a pencil +for awhile, then he said: + +"'Horton, I make the rich pay, and pay well, but I do not intend to ask +those girls of yours a cent for this operation.'" + +A great "O-o-o-o-h!" went up from the girls. + +Uncle Robert went on. + +"Then the doctor said, before I could thank him, 'I wonder if the girls +would mind if I make a suggestion,' and I assured him that you would +like it very much. + +"'Well then,' said the doctor, 'here it is. Gwenny will require a great +deal of care for many months to come, rubbing and so forth. Why don't +those good girls take the money and buy a little house somewhere on the +edge of the city, or on a quiet street, where the Harters could live and +where Mrs. Harter would not have to work so hard to earn the rent? From +what she says, the boys earn nearly enough to feed the family. What do +you think of that?' + +"I told him that I thought it was a splendid idea, and would see what +could be done about it. Then he made the finest suggestion of all. He +said that another week in the hospital would be of great benefit to +Gwenny, and why didn't I come home and see you and if you all approve, +we can buy a small house and settle it and Gwenny can be moved right +there." + +A shriek of delight went up, and everyone commenced to talk at once. + +"Order, order!" cried Mr. Horton. He could scarcely make himself heard. + +At last after much talking, it was settled that Mr. Horton should look +at a number of houses, and when he had seen them he was to select the +three that seemed most promising and take all the girls to see them. But +he stipulated that a couple of older ladies should look them over with +him, and Mrs. Breen and Mrs. Hargrave were chosen by unanimous vote. + +"Now, girls, how are you going to thank the Doctor?" he asked. + +No one knew and finally Rosanna suggested that it would be well to think +it over. So they all trooped home, Uncle Robert promising to make a +report at the end of three days. + +It was a long three days, but it passed finally, and Uncle Robert +appeared with an account of three little bungalows that seemed all that +he had hoped for, and more. One of them he thought was the one for them +to take, as it was right on a good part of Preston Street where the +children could easily get to school. It was brand new, and had never +been occupied. Indeed it was not finished but would be within two or +three days. After the girls had seen the three houses, Mr. Horton said +he would tell them which one Mrs. Hargrave and Mrs. Breen liked the +best. Of course all the girls piled into the automobiles of the girls +who had them, and made the rounds, and equally of course they all +decided on the Preston Street house which was the very one that Mrs. +Hargrave and Mrs. Breen had liked. It was all done except the plumbing +in the kitchen, so Mr. Horton went right over to see Minnie who was +still keeping house for the Harter children. Minnie heard all about the +new plan, and Mr. Horton asked: + +"Now, Minnie, do you feel like moving these people all over there, +before Mrs. Harter and Gwenny come home, or is it too much to ask you?" + +"Just you fetch me a moving van the day you want we should move," said +Minnie, "and I will do the rest." She cast an eye around the +dilapidated, shabby room. "My, my! What a piece of good luck for the +_deservingest_ woman! I tell you, Mr. Robert, the time I've been here +has been a lesson to me. The way she has scrimped, and saved, and +patched, and turned, and mended, and went without! My young man and me +on his wages ought to put away fifty dollars every month of our lives. +And so I told him we was going to do. Of course I will move 'em! And Mr. +Robert, if it was so I could go around and see the house, perhaps I +could tell better how to pack." + +"That's right, Minnie. Suppose we go over now," said Mr. Horton. + +Minnie was overjoyed when she saw the little house, and at once picked +out a room for Gwenny. The other children could double up, but Gwenny +should have a room to herself. Minnie seemed thoughtful all the way +home, and finally said, "Mr. Horton, up in your garret, there is a pile +of window curtains that don't fit anywhere, and they will never be used. +I have handled 'em a million times while I worked for your mother. And +there's a square table with a marble top that your mother can't abide +the sight of, and a couple of brass beds put up there when they went out +of date. If your mother would spare any of those things I could fix that +house so tasty." + +"I don't suppose she wants any of them," said Robert heartily. "I will +speak to her about them when I go home, and after supper Rosanna and I +will take a joy ride over here and tell you what her answer is." + +The answer was that Mrs. Horton was only too glad to get rid of the +things Minnie had mentioned, and suggested that before settling the +house Minnie might go through the attic and see if there was anything +else that she thought would be of service. Mrs. Horton, knowing that +Minnie would know better than she could, just what the Harters would +appreciate, refrained from making any suggestions; and Minnie found many +treasures in the attic. There were portières, and a soft low couch, the +very thing for Gwenny to rest on in the pleasant sitting-room, and the +beds, and a table and two bureaus. And she found two carpet rugs. + +She set Mary and Myron to work with a pot of cream colored paint, and in +two days the shabby old dining-room table and shabbier chairs were all +wearing bright new coats. + +As soon as ever she could, she called on Mr. Robert for the moving van, +and moved everything over to the new house. Settling was a joy, there +were so many to help. All the Girl Scouts wanted to do something, and +between them they outfitted Gwenny's dresser (a walnut one that was put +through the paint test and came out pretty as could be). The two carpet +rugs were laid down in the living-room and the dining-room, and looked +scarcely worn at all after Minnie had finished scrubbing, and Tommy and +Myron had whipped them. The dining-room rug was dark blue, and how that +table and those chairs did show up on it. The springs were broken down +in the couch Minnie had picked out, but she turned it over and her young +man nailed a new piece of webbing underneath, and in five minutes it was +as good as new. Rosanna helped her as much as she could. When they were +busy putting up the curtains Minnie said, "Rosanna dear, I think your +Uncle Robert looks thin." + +"I think he does too," said Rosanna, but remembering her promise would +say no more. + +"In love," said Minnie, wisely nodding her head. + +"Of course _not_," said Rosanna. "He doesn't like girls." + +"No, he doesn't. Oh no!" said Minnie. "Of course he is in love! Do you +mean to tell me, Rosanna, that you don't know that he is in love with +little Miss Hooker? Don't tell me that!" + +"I _do_ tell you," said Rosanna. "He doesn't even like her, sweet as she +is." + +"My good land, hear the child!" said Minnie, sitting down on the top +step of the ladder, and letting the stiffly starched curtain trail to +the floor. + +"Do you remember the day she came to see you when you were sick after +your accident, and your grandmother had said you could be a Girl Scout? +Do you remember that your Uncle Robert was there when she came in? Well, +believe me, Rosanna, your Uncle Robert fell in love with her that very +day and hour and minute, and that's the truth." + +"I wish it was," sighed Rosanna. "I _do_ wish it was, but he truly does +not like her. I don't know why." + +"Well, that beats me!" said Minnie, picking up the slack of the curtain +again, and sadly hanging it. "I certainly am disappointed, for she is +the _sweetest_ little bit I ever hope to see, and it would be a mercy to +see that good, kind, nice actin' young man get the likes of her rather +than some high nosed madam, who would look down on all his humble +friends (as friends we _are_, Rosanna, as you may well believe)." + +Rosanna did not answer. She was too low in her mind. She knew that Uncle +Robert did not care for anyone, but what if someone _should_ grab him +anyhow? Rosanna felt that life was full of perils. + +Two days later the little house was in perfect order, and Uncle Robert +went again to Cincinnati after Gwenny. It was decided that no one should +meet them on account of tiring Gwenny after her journey, so Uncle Robert +carried Gwenny to the automobile and took her home to the little new +house, her mother looking back with her sweet, anxious smile from the +front seat of the automobile. When they reached the Preston Street +house, and Mary and Myron and boisterous Tommy and little Luella all +filed out quite quiet, but brimming with happiness, Mrs. Harter could +only stare. + +"This is Gwenny's house, Mrs. Harter, deeded to her. Come in!" said Mr. +Horton, as Minnie rushed out and led the dazed woman into all the +glories of the new home. + +Mr. Horton carried Gwenny straight to her own room, and laid her down on +the sparkling, gleaming brass bed, where he left her listening to Mary's +rapid explanations. When he went downstairs he found Mrs. Harter in the +kitchen, crying silently. + +"Now, now, Mrs. Harter, you must not do that!" he said. "Brace up like a +good woman! Gwenny will need a lot of care for a few days, and you will +need all your strength." + +"Oh, but I am so thankful that my heart feels as though it would break!" +said Mrs. Harter. + +Mr. Horton laughed. "It won't break," he said. "Minnie, shall I take you +home?" + +"Thank you, sir, but my Tom is coming over a little later. I have supper +all fixed, so we will have a small feast to celebrate, after Gwenny is +attended to and safe in bed, so I will get home nicely, thank you." + +"Good night then," said Mr. Horton. "Don't let those Girl Scouts run +over you, Mrs. Harter." He raised his hat and ran down the steps +whistling. + +"There goes one good man," said Minnie solemnly. "Come, dear, and take +off your hat in your own house, and see the ducky closet under the +stairs to keep it in." + +And so it was that Gwenny came home. + +Mr. Horton sped to his own home as fast as he dared drive the car, the +chauffeur sitting silently beside him. Robert was too happy to let +anyone else handle the wheel. Once more he dashed up the steps three at +a time, whistling. Rosanna was at the door. + +"Be careful of your heart, Uncle Robert," she whispered, looking around +to see that her grandmother was not within hearing. "Were they pleased?" + +"_Were_ they?" said Uncle Robert. "I should say they _were_! Everybody +perfectly happy! Gwenny staring around her pretty room, and Mrs. Harter +crying in the sink. Yes, everybody is happy. Teedle-ee, teedle-oo!" +warbled Uncle Robert. + +"How good and kind you are, dear Uncle Robert!" said Rosanna tenderly. + +"Yes, _ain't I_?" said Uncle Robert, deliberately ungrammatical. "Oh, +yes, I _be_!" he went on chanting, as he sat down and fished out a +cigarette. Then changing to a sober tone, "Rosanna, whom do you think I +found in Cincinnati? Up there at that Hospital as large as life?" + +"I don't know," said Rosanna. + +"Well, if you will believe me, there was that bad little bit of a Miss +Hooker, who had come back from Atlantic City to see that Gwenny was all +right. She helped me bring them home. And Rosanna, perhaps I didn't _get +even_ with her, for what she said about my being funny! You know I told +you I would. I did! It was hard, hard work but I done it, I done it! +Tra-la-de-lu-de-lu-de-i-i-i-i-i!" yodeled Uncle Robert, whisking the ash +off his cigarette. + +"What did you do to her?" asked Rosanna in a small, fearful voice. + +Uncle Robert looked very sternly at Rosanna. + +"What did I do?" he asked. "What did I _do_? Well, I made her promise to +marry me; _that's_ what I did! Pretty smart uncle, hey, Rosanna?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Rosanna sank feebly down on the hall bench, and to her own surprise and +Uncle Robert's dismay burst into tears. + +"Well, who next?" said Uncle Robert. "Mrs. Harter crying in the sink, +and you weeping all over our nice hall. Oh dear, what a wet, wet world!" + +"Oh, don't mind me," said Rosanna, choking back her sobs. "I am +perfectly happy, only everything turns out so differently from +everything else!" + +"I suppose you are right," granted Uncle Robert. "You must be if you +know what you mean." + +"I am not sure _what_ I mean," said Rosanna, "but I am so glad, glad, +_glad_ that you are going to marry that dear darling Miss Hooker instead +of that high nosed madam!" + +"What are you talking about?" demanded Robert. "High nosed? Who is she?" + +"I think it is someone Minnie made up," said Rosanna. "She said what a +shame if she married you." + +"Well, she didn't and won't," declared Uncle Robert with conviction. +"And as far as _nose_ goes, my girl has only enough nose so that one +knows it _is_ a nose. Get that, Rosanna?" + +Rosanna giggled. "Have you told grandmother?" she asked. + +Uncle Robert looked suddenly sobered. + +"No, I didn't, and I should have done so first and I meant to, and it is +all your fault, Rosanna." + +"How so?" asked Rosanna in surprise. + +"Well, if it hadn't been for you I would never have been traipsing over +the country on errands for the Girl Scouts and you wouldn't have been +waiting for me in the hall, and I wouldn't have been so fussed at seeing +you that I would forget to tell my mamma first. And she won't like it +unless she gets told right quick," added Uncle Robert, getting up. +Rosanna wiped her eyes, whereupon Uncle Robert sang: + + "There, little girlie, don't you cry, + We'll have a wedding by and by," + +and ran up the stairs, three at a time, whistling as he went in search +of his mother. + +Uncle Robert was not one to take chances. After seeing his mother, who +was truly pleased and had the good sense to show it, he started to Mrs. +Hargrave's, and after a short visit left that dear old lady busy at the +telephone. The result was a wonderful announcement luncheon a week +later, given by Mrs. Hargrave, at which the little Captain looked +dimplier and sweeter than ever. After the luncheon she went over to +Rosanna's house, where she found all her Girl Scouts ready to +congratulate her. + +"You won't give us up, will you?" they all asked anxiously, and she +assured them that she would not. Seeing that they were really anxious, +she made them all sit down close around her, and one by one they sang +the Scout songs. They were happier after that, and only Rosanna was just +a little lonely when she thought of the days when Uncle Robert was away, +and reflected that all the days would be like that by-and-by. Just her +grandmother and herself in the great stately old house, not occupying +half of the rooms, and making so little noise that it made her lonely +just to think of it. However, she put it out of her mind as bravely as +she could. + +Miss Hooker stayed to dinner, and Mrs. Horton was so charming that +Rosanna could not help thinking what a very lovely young lady she must +have been. After dinner, Mrs. Horton calmly carried her little guest +away to her own sitting-room for what she called a consultation, and +Rosanna and Uncle Robert who had nothing whatever to consult about now, +sat and read. Upstairs, Mrs. Horton sat down opposite her son's +sweetheart, and said smilingly: + +"I want to say something to you that Robert does not dream I am going to +say, and if you do not approve, I want you to be frank enough and brave +enough to tell me. Will you?" + +"Yes, indeed I will," Miss Hooker promised. + +"I am an old woman, my dear, and silent. Sometimes I fear I am not very +agreeable. It is a hard and unchildlike life that our little Rosanna +leads here with me. I want you to ask yourself if for her sake you could +bring yourself to live here for a few years. I know how dear a new +little house is to a bride's heart, and I tremble to ask you such a +favor. But Rosanna has a lonely life at best, and with you here this +house could be made gay indeed. + +"I would never ask it for myself, but I do for Rosanna. I would gladly +do anything I could for her, but I cannot fill the house with the sort +of joy and gayety that she should have. She loves you deeply, and her +Uncle Robert is her ideal. + +"Wait a moment, dear," she added as she saw her guest was about to +speak. "I want to tell you what we could do. There are nine large rooms +on this floor. You could select what you want for a suite, and you and +Robert could decorate and furnish and arrange them to suit yourselves. I +would be so glad to do this just as you wish, and then of course, my +dear, the house is all yours besides. Could you consider it?" + +"I don't have to consider it," said the little Captain. "I have already +thought about it, and was worried about Rosanna, but I knew that she +could not come to us and leave you all alone here. I am sure Bob will be +glad to arrange it as you suggest, for he is very devoted to his mother +and to Rosanna as well." + +Mrs. Horton gave a sigh of relief. "I can't thank you enough, my dearest +girl," she said. "No one wants to make your life as happy as I do, and +if there is anything I can ever do for you, you have only to tell me. +Now we must have everything new in the rooms you want, so we will go +down and tell Robert and Rosanna. How glad that child will be!" + +Rosanna was tired and very nervous, and when Mrs. Horton and Miss Hooker +came down with their great plan, Rosanna once more, to her own horror, +commenced to cry. + +"Well, for goodness' sake," her uncle cried, "I never _did_ see anything +like this! What ails the child? This certainly settles me! I shall +never, never plan to get married again. Rosanna is turning into a +regular _founting_; yes, ma'am, a regular _founting_!" + +"Oh, I am so sorry--no, I mean I am so _glad_," said Rosanna. + +"You mean you are all tired out, and ought to go to bed," said her +grandmother. + +"And if I am to come here to live," said Robert's sweetheart, dimpling, +"I may as well see how I shall like putting a girl in her little bed." + +Rosanna, nearly as tall as the little lady, laughed through her tears. +She went over and kissed her uncle good-night. + +"I am sorry I was so silly," she whispered. "I was _so_ lonely when I +thought you were going away that somehow when I found you were not, why, +I just couldn't help myself." + +"I know how you felt. It is all right, sweetness," Uncle Robert +whispered back. Rosanna's clasp tightened round his neck. + +"Uncle Robert, shall I--do you suppose--will I be your sweetness just +the same even after you are married?" + +Uncle Robert kissed her hard. "Before and after, and forever and ever +more!" he said. "Just as soon as I get to be a sober married man, I +shall be your uncle and your daddy too, and you are going to be the +happiest little girl in the world." + +"Oh, Uncle Robert!" was all Rosanna could say, but her look thanked him +and tears were very near his own eyes as he watched the little orphaned +girl skipping off with her arm around the shoulders of his future wife. +But they were tears of happiness. + +"Don't you love this room, Captain?" asked Rosanna, as she switched on +the soft flood of light. + +"Indeed I do!" said Miss Hooker. "I expect to spend a great deal of my +time here. Between us, Rosanna, we ought to be able to plan the most +wonderful things for our Scout troop. And next summer Bob says he will +find a place for us to camp, and fit us out with tents and all that, so +we will not have to go to a boarding-house or hotel, but stay right in +the open. Won't that be splendid?" + +"Think of it!" said Rosanna. "Won't the girls be wild when they hear +about it? Oh, dear, I wish I was eighteen so I could be a lieutenant!" + +"I don't wish you were eighteen," said Miss Hooker. "I like you just as +you are." + +"Oh, Miss Hooker, you are _so_ sweet!" said Rosanna. + +Miss Hooker dimpled. "One thing we had better settle right now," she +said. "What are you going to call me?" + +Rosanna looked blank. "I hadn't thought about that at all. Of course I +can't go on calling you Miss Hooker, and then Mrs. Horton. And you are +too little and too young to be anybody's aunt." + +Miss Hooker watched her with a smile. + +"What are you going to do about it then? I want you to call me just what +you like. You are to choose." + +"Then I will tell you what," said Rosanna brightly. "I was reading the +sweetest little story the other day about a Spanish family, and they +called each other _Cita_. It means _dear_." + +"_Cita_," repeated Miss Hooker. "Why, I think that is just as sweet as +it can be, and I should love to have you call me that." + +"Then that is what you are, little Cita," said Rosanna with a kiss. And +to her devoted household, Cita she remains to this very day. + +Cita and Uncle Robert did not seem able to agree on a date for their +wedding. Cita declared that it would take at least six or eight months +to get what she mysteriously called her "things" together. Uncle Robert +declared with equal fervor that she had everything she needed, and that +they were not going to go off and live on a desert isle where there were +no shops. + +Finally Uncle Robert had an inspiration. "I tell you what let's do," he +said after a long argument. "Let's leave this to an outsider: someone +with no special interest in the affair. And as a business man, I will +name the agent." + +"Very well," said Cita. "See that you play fair." + +"I name and nominate Miss Rosanna Horton, and as her aids and assistants +I name and nominate Miss Helen Culver and Miss Elise Hargrave." + +"That is not playing fair at all!" cried Cita. "You know perfectly well +that they want us to be married soon." + +Robert shook his head. "Not at all! Our marriage is detrimental to those +persons named, insomuch as I shall take you off on a wedding trip, and +by so doing shall interfere with the routine of work in your Scout +troop. That is a good committee, and I shall trust them. I shall now +call them in." + +The three girls were working in the Scout room on the tarleton +stockings, filling and tying them. Robert stepped to the door and +summoned them. Putting the question before them in the most serious +manner, he told them that they were to decide. + +"I should think I ought to decide my _own_ wedding day!" cried Cita. + +"You don't seem able to do it," said Robert. "You have been trying to +decide for the last ten days. You see it is a business proposition with +me. Perhaps if these good, kind young ladies succeed in fixing a wedding +day, say before Christmas, I won't have to buy you any Christmas +present." + +"I don't _want_ to be married before Christmas," wailed Cita, looking +appealingly at the girls. + +Rosanna nodded her head understandingly, and the three girls left the +room. + +"When will we set it?" asked Helen. "Do they really mean that we are to +do so?" + +"Tell him we have decided on the fifteenth of February," said Rosanna. +"That is the date she has fixed, but he is such a tease that she has +been teasing him in return. That will give her all the time she needs, +and she won't be all tired out. Everyone loves her, and wants to do +things for her and, besides, it is going to take weeks to get those +rooms fixed. I never saw grandmother so fussy over anything before. She +is going clear to New York and is going to take Cita to select hangings, +and she has an artist friend selecting pictures; that is, a list for +Cita to look over. Grandmother wants every last thing to be Cita's own +selection. And, girls, it is going to be _too_ lovely. What do you +think? You know those ceilings are about twenty feet high, and +grandmother has had them all lowered with plaster board and beams, so it +looks so much cozier. Grandmother is really splendid. I never loved her +so much." + +"Are you almost ready to report?" demanded Uncle Robert at the door. + +"All ready!" said Helen as the committee went skipping in. + +"Well, let's hear the verdict," said Uncle Robert. "If this committee is +as sensible as it looks, I expect to hear them say that the date is set +for next week Tuesday." + +"The fifteenth of February," said Rosanna firmly. + +A look of relief spread over Cita's face. + +"Wha-a-a-t?" said Uncle Robert. "Impossible! Why, _I_ named this +committee and by all the rules of politics you should have brought in +the report I want." + +"But it wouldn't have been fair," said Rosanna. + +"What has that to do with politics?" groaned Uncle Robert. "All right! I +have been done up; sold out, and by my own constituents. The fifteenth +of February it is. But don't you dare to make it a day later, young +ladies!" He rose. + +"Where are you going?" asked Rosanna. + +"Where?" said Uncle Robert, with a twinkle in his eye. "_You_ ask me +where? Well, I am going to drag myself downtown to get that Christmas +present." + +"And now," said Cita after he had gone, "now don't let's think of +weddings or anything else but our Scout work. Things have been dragging +lately, and I think it is my fault. If we do not do better and snappier +work right away, I will know it is my fault, and I shall give the troop +over to someone else. Engaged girls have no business trying to run a +troop." + +"Don't say that, Cita," said Rosanna. "We have all been working so hard +for Christmas that I think we have no energy left." + +"Possibly," said Cita, "but we must put things pretty well in order at +the next meeting, and before then I want all these Christmas things +marked and in their proper baskets. That meeting, the last before the +holidays, will be an important one." + +"Then let us go to work merrilee," said Elise, picking up a stocking, +and letting a gumdrop slide down into the toe. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +After the usual formalities of a meeting, Captain Hooker desired the +girls' full attention. She held a formidable sheaf of notes in her hand, +and it looked to the Scouts as though there was going to be a good deal +of work parcelled out to them. + +"In the first place," said their Captain, "I have asked the approval of +the National Headquarters, and you are at liberty to send a Thanks badge +to Doctor Branshaw. Now you have not yet sent him any formal thanks for +what he did for Gwenny and I wonder if any of you have an idea of some +attractive way of expressing your gratitude." + +"I thought of something, Captain," said Lucy Breen, "but perhaps it +wouldn't do." + +"Let us hear it," said the Captain. + +"How would it be to write him, each of us, a short letter of thanks, +just a few words, and at the top of each letter paste a snapshot of the +girl who has written it? Then bind them all in a sort of cover or folder +with our motto and a print of our flower on the outside." + +"I think that is simply a splendid idea," cried the Captain. "Don't you +think so, girls?" + +Of course everyone did, and it was settled that Rosanna should go and +buy the paper for the letters so they should all be alike. As for the +cover, Miss Hooker, who was an artist of more than ordinary talent and +skill, offered to illuminate the cover with the cornflower as the motif; +and she decided to illuminate it on parchment, with the deep blue of the +flowers and dull gold lettering. The girls who had no snapshot of +themselves promised to have one taken at once. Before they finished, the +"Thanks Book" as they called it, promised to become a beautiful and very +attractive affair. Miss Hooker warned them all to write natural and +simple letters. + +"How many of you have been over to see Gwenny in her new home?" asked +the Captain. "After the holidays, I think it would be a very kind thing +for you to each give up an afternoon once in so often (you can decide +how often you can spare the time), and go spend the afternoon with +Gwenny. Her mother feels that she should do a little work now and that +faithful little Mary is taking care of a couple of children over here on +Third Street every afternoon, to earn her share of the household +expenses. So Gwenny is left very much alone." + +"My mother has been in the Norton Infirmary for a month," said one of +the girls, "and she said the nurse told her that it would mean a great +deal to some of these patients if we girls would only come in once in +awhile, and talk to some of the patients who get so lonely. Mother said +there was a boy there with a broken hip, and he was always going to be +lame, and he grieved so about it all the time that it kept him from +getting well. And there was another patient, a girl about my age, with +something wrong with her back. She is in a plaster cast, and her only +relative is a father who travels, and he is in California." + +"Now there is an idea for you all," said Miss Hooker. "I want to talk +all these things over today, because if I am away at any time I want to +feel that I know just about what you are doing. I should think that it +would do a lot of good to visit those poor young people. There is just +one thing to remember if you want to be popular with the nurses and +helpful to the patients: always stay just a little _shorter_ time than +you are expected to. Then the nurses feel that you are wise enough to be +trusted without tiring the patients, and the patients are left with the +desire to see you soon again." + +"That is just what my mother said," said the girl who had spoken. "She +says so many people come who just stay and stay and if the nurse does +not get around in time to send them home, why, they have the patient in +a fever." + +"Perfectly true," said Miss Hooker. "Make your visits short--and often. +Next," said the Captain, "I want to tell you that Lucy Breen has passed +the examinations successfully in two subjects. She is now entitled to +wear the Merit badge for Horsemanship and Clerk." + +All the girls clapped. + +"_Bon bon_, dear Lucee!" whispered Elise. + +Lucy smiled back at the dear girl who had befriended her at a moment +when she needed a friend so badly. + +"I want to ask how many of you girls are taking regular exercises every +morning?" asked Captain Hooker. "It does not seem as though you had as +good color as you should have. I want my girls to be the finest looking +troop at the great meeting in the spring. It is to be in Washington; did +I tell you? And I want every one of you to go. Now, there is an +incentive to work. The rally is in June just after school is over, and I +want you to earn the money for your railroad tickets. Of course we will +all get special rates, and it will not cost us anything after we arrive +there, as we will be the guests of the Washington Scouts, or some of the +women's organizations. But you should all of you be able to earn ten +dollars before that time. It will take that much, but no more. If any of +you girls belong to families who could send you, you are at liberty to +help some other girl who is less fortunate, but you must each one of you +earn the sum I have mentioned." + +"What if we earn more?" asked Lucy Breen. + +"I am sure you will be glad to have a little spending money when you get +to Washington," said Miss Hooker. + +"Some of us will earn more and some less," said Helen. "After we earn +the ten dollars, why couldn't we put everything else we earn in your +hands, and then it could be evenly divided at the end, and we would each +have the same amount to spend, and when we come home we can each tell +what we spent it for." + +"Splendid!" exclaimed Miss Hooker. "What do you girls think of that? I +think it would be quite a test of your ability to get a good deal of +pleasure or profit out of a stated amount." + +Again everybody clapped, and with a little more discussion the subject +was left settled. + +One of the Webster girls raised a hand. + +"What would you suggest that we could do to earn money?" she said. "All +we can do is dance, and mamma won't let us dance in public until we are +grown up. We don't know how to do anything else." + +"Marian, I get awfully cross with you sometimes," laughed Miss Hooker. +"What are those two merit badges on your sleeve?" + +"Oh, _those_!" said Marian in a helpless voice. "The gridiron for +Cooking and the palm leaf for Invalid Cooking. But I can't go out and +cook." + +"What can you make best?" asked Miss Hooker. + +Another girl spoke up. "She makes the loveliest jellies you ever tasted +and they always stand right up, never slump over at all." + +"And you, Evelyn Webster, what is that on your sleeve?" + +"The palette," said Evelyn. + +"There you are!" said Miss Hooker. "What is the good of earning these +badges if you are never going to make use of the things they stand for?" +She picked up the Girl Scouts Hand Book that was lying on her lap, and +turning over the pages said, "Listen to this: + +"Employment. + +"'Stick to it,' the thrush sings. One of the worst weaknesses of many +people is that they do not have the perseverance to stick to what they +have to do. They are always wanting to change. Whatever you do, take up +with all your might and stick to it. Besides the professions of nursing, +teaching, stenography and typewriting and clerking, there are many less +crowded employments, such as hairdressing, making flowers, coloring +photographs, and assisting dentists, and gardening. There are many +occupations for women, but before any new employment can be taken up, +one must begin while young to make plans and begin collecting +information. 'Luck is like a street car, the only way to get it, is to +look out for every chance and seize it--run at it, and jump on; don't +sit down and wait for it to pass. Opportunity is a street car which has +few stopping places.' + +"Now there you are, Marian and Evelyn, with your jelly and your +beautiful lettering. Make some of that jelly, and put it in the +prettiest glasses you can find, and tie the tops on with a little ribbon +from the five-and-ten-cent store, and illuminate some sample cards for +window displays, and take them down to the Women's Exchange. You, +Evelyn, take your cards to the manager of one of the big stores, and ask +him if he could use such work. He will probably want a thousand of them. +I am glad this came up. If you are all as helpless as Evelyn and Marian +when it comes to using your knowledge, why, there is really not much use +in earning merit badges. + +"I think we will talk this over for ten minutes informally, and then we +will call the roll, and see what each one thinks she can do." + +The Captain turned to the Lieutenant and commenced to talk to her in a +low tone, and for ten minutes the room buzzed. Then at the sharp command +of the Lieutenant's whistle silence fell, and the roll was called, and +each girl's chosen task was jotted down beside her name. The outlook was +rather black for some of the girls who had chosen to try for merits in +unusual rather than in available subjects. For instance, one girl wore +badges for proficiency in Swimming, Signaling, Pioneer, Pathfinder, and +Marksmanship. + +None of these seemed to offer an opening for moneymaking, especially +during the winter months. But she was plucky, and merely said that she +would find a way to earn the money. And she did it by going to the Y. W. +C. A. and assisting the swimming mistress for a couple of hours every +afternoon. So well did she do that when the money was turned in, she had +twenty-five dollars to put in the general fund for spending money. + +Another girl had a merit badge for Aviation, but she went to work in her +workshop and built box kites that no boy could resist, and sold them by +the dozen. + +As Miss Hooker told them, the trick was to make use of what they had +learned. Of course a good deal of this worked itself out later, but when +they had finished their discussion, and Miss Hooker had urged them to +get to work as soon as they possibly could, she changed the subject by +saying, with just a little hesitation: + +"I wonder how many of you know that I am to be married?" + +Every hand rose and a voice said, "But we don't know when." + +"That is what I want to talk to you about," smiled Miss Hooker. "We are +going to be married on the fifteenth of February, and I shall not have +bridesmaids and all that girls usually have; I want my own Scout girls +as attendants--all of you. Will you all come?" + +There was a series of exclamations of "Oh, Miss Hooker!" and "Indeed we +will!" + +"Thank you!" said Miss Hooker, quite as though she was asking a favor +instead of conferring one. "Then I will depend on all of you, and a +little later I will tell you the plan I have for the wedding. Of course +you are to arrange to attend the reception afterwards, and we will have +automobiles to take you all home." + +"Oh, thank you, thank you!" chorused the girls. + +Miss Hooker found that after her invitation it was impossible to +interest the girls in anything in the nature of routine work, so she +soon dismissed the meeting, and the girls as usual piling into the +automobiles belonging to Rosanna and Elise and Lucy and one or two +others, were driven home in a great state of excitement. + +A Girl Scout wedding! That was what it amounted to. Miss Hooker,--their +dear Captain, thought so much of them that she had chosen them to attend +her rather than her own friends. It was thrilling in the extreme. + +It struck about twenty of them about the same time later, that there had +been nothing said about clothes. This was an awful thought. Rosanna +seemed likely to know more than any of the others, on account of the +distinction of having Miss Hooker marry her uncle, so the twenty anxious +maidens rushed to as many telephones and gave central a very bad time +for about an hour, saying "Line's busy," while Rosanna talked to each +one as she secured a clear line, and assured her that she knew nothing +at all about it. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +The fifteenth of February sparkled all day long. Not half of the Scouts +were able to sleep, and they saw the round bright sun bounce out of the +east and start blazing up in a cloudless sky. All day it was the same. +Not a cloud in the sky, not a shadow on the earth. Automobile horns +seemed to take on a joyous toot. The heavy "ding, dong, ding, dong," of +the locomotive bell as it crossed Third Street lost its mournful tone +and sounded sweetly solemn like a wedding bell. + +All day relays of restless Scouts belonging to Captain Hooker's troop +drifted in at the open door of the beautiful old cathedral and watched +the silent workmen setting the palms and flowers under the direction of +a bevy of young ladies who were Miss Hooker's schoolmates and life-long +friends. They had claimed the right to decorate the church since they +were not included in the wedding other than as spectators. + +On twenty-four beds twenty-four Girl Scout uniforms in a terrifying +condition of starch and cleanliness lay stiffly out, with hats and +staffs beside them. And at about three in the afternoon twenty-four Girl +Scouts lay down on other beds, so they would be "fresh" for the wedding. +All the shades were pulled down, but not one of the twenty-four managed +to get to sleep. It was awful! Actually painful! Each one lay wondering +what the others were doing, and what Miss Hooker was doing. Wondered +what she would wear, wondered if she was frightened. The two Websters +had refused to rest in separate rooms, so they talked in a cautious +undertone, while their mother in the next room pressed imaginary creases +out of their tunics. The whole troop had beautiful new hair ribbons from +Miss Hooker and from Mr. Horton a beautiful gold bangle bracelet. A +messenger boy had delivered them all around just at noon, and while they +rested twenty-four left arms were held up to catch the light on the +gleaming band. The idea of anyone sleeping! + +At six o'clock sharp the Lieutenant, Miss Jamieson, hurried up the steps +of the Hargrave house where the girls were to meet, and ten minutes +later three patrols marched nervously along and turned in. Then for +endless ages, too nervous to talk, they sat waiting for the automobiles +that were to carry them to the old cathedral. They were torn with fears. +What if Mr. Horton and his best man, Doctor MacLaren, had forgotten to +order the cars at all? What if they should be late, and the wedding go +on without them? The voice of Mrs. Hargrave's house boy announcing "De +cahs is heah, ma'am," sounded like music. + +The cathedral, down in the oldest part of the city, seemed a million +miles away, and the cars crawled. Not a traffic policeman but stopped +them as they approached--but at last they arrived and entered the +church. How beautiful it was, softly yet brilliantly lighted through its +high arches. White satin with heavy gold embroideries draping altar and +desk, tall candles burning at either side of the Cross. And somewhere +softly, thrillingly out of space, spoke the most entrancing music. + +People went down the aisles in gaily clad groups, the delicate perfumes +of the flowers worn by beautiful women wafting to the girls as they +passed. Mrs. Breen's two brothers and the brothers of the two Girl +Scouts who had helped at the benefit were all acting as ushers and they +were certainly busy. + +Standing just inside the door, the girls were aware of a little stir, +and a group entered, walking more slowly and carefully than the others. +Even the girls were surprised as they stared. For first of all came +Gwenny, Gwenny leaning heavily on the arm of the kindly sign painter, +but Gwenny was _walking_! + +Behind, looking very shiny and quite agonized, followed Mary and Tommy +and little Myron firmly clutching the still littler Luella, who looked +on the verge of tears. After them, to close all avenue of escape, walked +Mrs. Harter, and Minnie and Tom. Very slowly, in Gwenny's halting +footsteps, they went down the aisle--down and down until they came to +the satin ribbon that fenced off a portion of the seats for Miss +Hooker's most particular friends. And even then they did not stop, for +Doctor MacLaren, who was with them, led them to the fourth seat from the +front. It had evidently been saved for them, for in the corner next the +aisle was a big pillow for Gwenny's back. Cita's girl friends kept +drifting in, lovely, colorful creatures in dancing frocks, and the girls +reflected with joy that they too were asked to the reception afterwards. + +Then came the group of the bride's relatives, and close behind, Mrs. +Horton, walking with her hand on the arm of the older Breen boy, and +looking like a queen in her pale gray satin robe, brocaded with silver. + +And then the Lieutenant, who had been standing outside all this time, +returned, looking quite pale, and gave an order in a tone so low that +half of the girls did not hear at all, but they were so keyed up that +they knew just what to do and formed a double line facing the chancel. + +The music burst suddenly, joyously into the Wedding March, and the girls +started slowly down the broad aisle, keeping step to the music. So +smoothly and so quickly had it been done that they had not had a glimpse +of the bride, who was following them on her father's arm, with Rosanna +all in white before her as maid of honor. + +Down the aisle, straight and trim, marched the Guard of Honor. When the +first two girls reached the foot of the chancel steps, they stopped and +turned to face each other, taking two steps backward. As the line all +formed, the staffs were raised until the tips met, and under this arch, +all misty tulle and gleaming satin, her cheeks faintly flushed, her lips +softly smiling, passed their little Captain. Mr. Robert who had been +waiting just beyond came forward and took her hand, and the Dean stepped +down to meet them, while the Bishop waited before the altar. + +The music muted. And in the place of the march came faint sighs of +melody. Then in a pause of the ceremony, from somewhere silvery chimes +rang out. The little bride stood motionless, her tulle train seeming to +melt into the whiteness of the marble on which she stood. + +And then, almost at once it seemed, it was all over. The little Captain +had made her new vows, the ring was on her hand, the blessing on her +bowed head. Quite solemnly Mr. Robert kissed her, then the organ broke +out with a burst that filled the great church, and fairly beat down the +rising throngs, as the married couple, passing under the crossed staves, +passed down the aisle and out into their new life. + +The Guard of Honor, in their automobiles once more and whirling after +the bridal car to the reception, found their tongues and all talked at +once. No one listened; no one cared. They went through a canopied, +carpeted tunnel across the sidewalk to the house, and there were firmly +handled by a bevy of colored maids who took their staffs and hats and +sent them forth with nothing to do with their hands. But Mr. Robert +shook all the hands they had, and the little Captain kissed them each +and every one. And then she asked them to form just back of her until +she had greeted all the guests. This took a long time, but was such fun, +because they saw everyone and all the dresses, and everything. + +But finally the line thinned out, the congratulations were over, and the +little Captain, taking her filmy train over her arm, drifted out among +the guests and the girls broke up into groups. A little later Rosanna +came hurrying around to tell the girls to come to the library. They +found the Captain and her husband there, talking to a chubby, smiling, +altogether kindly and delightful little gentleman, who stared beamingly +at them through immense horn-rimmed spectacles. + +"I want to present you to Doctor Branshaw, girls," said Mrs. Horton. "He +came all the way from Cincinnati to attend our wedding and to meet you." + +The girls stepped up one by one to be presented to the great man. + +"I didn't see any other way of meeting you all," he said. "My time is +always so broken, and they keep me so busy down there that I actually +didn't have time to write and tell you how greatly I appreciated that +book you sent me. I think it was quite the nicest thing in the world. I +shall always keep it." + +"It was poor thanks for what you did for Gwenny," said Miss Jamieson, +finding that someone had to answer. + +"I was glad to do it," said the Doctor, "after you had led the way. It +is an honor to work with the Girl Scouts. When you are twice as old, +yes, three times as old as you are now, you will realize what a +wonderful work you are doing in the world. I come across evidences of it +every day. This Gwenny, for instance. Did you see the way she went down +that long aisle tonight? Why, that girl is going to be well, perfectly +well! Think of the years of pain and misery you have saved her, the +agonizing nights and the untimely death. Whose plan was it, anyway?" + +"Rosanna Horton's," said half a dozen voices. + +Rosanna flushed. "No, don't say that!" she objected. "It is just as the +doctor says. If I thought of it it was because I am a Scout. Call it the +Girl Scouts' Plan." + +"Yours or theirs, Miss Rosanna; it was a divine thought and should make +you all happy. You have given the three greatest boons to a fellow +creature: life, health, and happiness, and all because your splendid +order teaches you to watch for just such opportunities. Now I will give +you an opportunity to do a good deed tonight," and he laughed the +jolliest laugh. "There are a couple of very wise gentlemen here tonight, +who would like to talk to me, and they would want to talk about +operations and anesthetics and all those things that I left locked up in +my office at home. But I can't tell them that, so I wish you could just +look after me for the next hour, and sort of beau me around, you know, +and if you see any bald heads or spectacles bearing down on us, just +close in and protect me." + +"Oh, we will!" chorused the girls, greatly pleased. + +So the great Dr. Branshaw, quite the greatest and most eminent man +present, passed happily from room to room surrounded and tagged by a +chatting, smiling throng of uniformed girls. + +When a cheering looking line of waiters appeared with plates and +napkins, the great man and his little court settled in a cozy nook and +proceeded to fly in the face of all the best health experts. And to see +the Doctor shamelessly send for more bouillon, and consume sandwiches, +and sliced turkey, and candied sweet potato and salad, and oh, dear, all +_sorts_ of things, was enough to make any Scout hungry, and they just +feasted and feasted. + +Although the doctor refused to talk to the wise men, he did talk to the +girls, getting on the subject dearest to him, as all professional men +will, and telling them many an amusing story and pathetic incident. + +Finally he rose. "I must go, girls," he said. "I said good-bye to Mrs. +Horton when I came in, so I could just slip out a little side door there +is here." + +He shook hands all around and patted each straight shoulder. "Don't +forget me," he said, "and remember if there is anything I can do to +help, we are all working together. See this?" He smiled and pulled aside +his coat. There on his waistcoat was the Thanks Badge they had sent him. +"I always wear it," he said, and with a merry good-bye hurried through +the little door, and was gone. + +Rosanna went to the hall and looked out. + +"Hurry, hurry!" she called. "Here she comes! We nearly missed her!" + +The bride, in her travelling dress, was coming down the stairs. She +paused on the landing and looked down at the sea of smiling faces below. +Then suddenly she tossed her bouquet out. A dozen hands reached for it, +and the girl who caught it danced up and down. Everyone laughed. + +"What did she do that for?" asked one of the Websters. + +"The one who catches the bride's bouquet," said Miss Jamieson, "will be +the next one married." + +"Quick!" cried Elise. "Let us all form the guard-line for her. Never +mind those staves!" + +Slipping through the throng and out the door, the girls formed a double +line to the automobile waiting at the curb. A great white bow was tied +on the back, and Rosanna quickly took it off and hid it. + +"Cita wouldn't like that," she explained. Then she stood with her hand +on the door. The house door opened and in a blaze of light, confetti and +rice showering about her, rose leaves floating above her, the little +bride and her tall young husband ran down the steps and through the +double line of Scouts, who closed solidly before the door of the +limousine as she entered it. The other guests were shut out. For that +moment she was again their little Captain and belonged to them alone. +Forming in a solid group, they suddenly shouted the Girl Scout yell, +threw her a shower of kisses, and crying good-bye over and over, watched +her little hand wave a farewell as the car sprang forward. + + * * * * * + +Helen and Elise were Rosanna's guests for the night. A couch had been +prepared so the three girls could sleep in the same room. They rolled +themselves up in bathrobes, and sat on the edge of the couch just as +they had sat on the top step so many months ago, only this time Elise +did not knit. She too sat with her chin in her hands, staring out of the +window. Rosanna had snapped off the light. A million stars in a deep +frosty sky looked down on them. The night sparkled. It was very, very +late, but Mrs. Horton with surpassing wisdom had not asked them to go +right to bed. She too was awake, dreaming long dreams. + +Presently Elise spoke. "So much of happiness makes me sad," she said. + +"Well, it is all over," sighed Rosanna. + +"Not at all!" cried Elise. "What could be over? Not Meeses Horton, who +is just beginning. Not us, who have so many, many works to do. Not +Gwenny who steps into a new life. Just see all those stars. They shine +and sparkle always, no matter what goes on down here." + +"You sound like a little sermon, Elise dear," said Helen, smiling. + +"I don't know just yet what it is you call sermon, but I hope it is +nice," replied Elise. + +"Yours is, anyway," said Rosanna, kissing the fair face beside her. + +"All I meant was that this is over, the wedding and all that. Oh, of +course I didn't mean that _everything_ was over. It is just as though a +beautiful day had ended, as it has," Rosanna continued. "Others will +come, many, many other busy, beautiful days, and on my honor, I will try +to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times +and to obey the Scout laws," said Rosanna softly, lifting her eyes to +the eternal stars. + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Scouts Rally, by Katherine Keene Galt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY *** + +***** This file should be named 38152-8.txt or 38152-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/5/38152/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/38152-8.zip b/38152-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..26b61e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/38152-8.zip diff --git a/38152-h.zip b/38152-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..26e6b82 --- /dev/null +++ b/38152-h.zip diff --git a/38152-h/38152-h.htm b/38152-h/38152-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..695b1a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/38152-h/38152-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6512 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> + <meta name="generator" content="ppgen"/> + <meta name="author" content="Katherine Keene Galt"/> + <meta name="date" content="1921"/> + <meta name="title" content="The Girl Scouts Rally"/> + <title>The Girl Scouts Rally, by Katherine Keene Galt</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 10%; margin-bottom: 10%; + text-align: justify; } + p { margin-top:.7071em; margin-bottom:.7071em; text-align:justify; } + .pagenum { display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee; } + .pncolor { color:silver; } + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } + div.figure { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + p.caption { text-align:center; } + div.chapter { margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em; } + p.cln0 { text-align:center; display: block; font-size:1.3em; } + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl Scouts Rally, by Katherine Keene Galt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Scouts Rally + Rosanna Wins + +Author: Katherine Keene Galt + +Release Date: November 27, 2011 [EBook #38152] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="figure"> +<img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="image"/> +<p class="caption">“So you want me to come to your show, do you?†said Mr. Harriman.</p> +</div> + +<p style="margin-top:4em;"> </p> + +<p style="text-align:center;"><i>Girl Scouts Series, Volume 2</i></p> + +<p style="text-align:center;font-size: 1.6em;">THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;">or</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;font-size: 1.4em;">ROSANNA WINS</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;margin-top: 2.0em;">BY</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;font-size: 1.2em;margin-bottom: 2.0em;">Katherine Keene Galt</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom: 0.0em;">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;font-size: 0.8em;margin-top: 0.0em;">CHICAGO—AKRON, OHIO—NEW YORK</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;font-size: 0.8em;">MADE IN U. S. A.</p> + +<p style="margin-top:4em;"> </p> + +<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom: 0.0em;">Copyright, 1921, by</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;margin-top: 0.0em;margin-bottom: 2.0em;">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY</p> + +<table style='margin: 0 auto' summary="Girl Scouts series"> +<tr><td align="center">THE GIRL SCOUTS SERIES</td></tr> +<tr><td>1 THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME</td></tr> +<tr><td>2 THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY</td></tr> +<tr><td>3 THE GIRL SCOUT’S TRIUMPH</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p style="margin-top:4em;"> </p> + +<p style="text-align:center;font-size: 1.4em;">THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY</p> + +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chI'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER I</p> +</div> + + +<p>Three little girls sat in a row on the top step of +a beautiful home in Louisville. At the right was +a dark-haired, fairylike child on whose docked hair +a velvet berét, or French officer’s cap, sat jauntily. +Her dark eyes were round and thoughtful as she +gazed into space. There was a little wrinkle between +her curved black brows.</p> + +<p>Beside her, busily knitting on a long red scarf, +sat a sparkling little girl whose hazel eyes danced +under a fringe of blond curls. Her dainty motions +and her pretty way of tossing back her beautiful +hair caused people to stop and look at her as they +passed, but Elise was all unconscious of their admiration. +Indeed, she was almost too shy, and few +knew how full of fun and laughter she could be.</p> + +<p>The third girl wore a businesslike beaver hat over +her blond docked hair, and her great eyes, blue and +steady, were levelled across Elise, who knitted on +in silence, to the dark girl in the velvet cap.</p> + +<p>Helen Culver spoke at last. “Well, Rosanna, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> +what are you thinking? Have you any plan at +all?â€</p> + +<p>The dark child spoke. “No, Helen, I can’t think +of a thing. It makes me <i>so</i> provoked!â€</p> + +<p>“Tell me, will you not?†asked Elise in her +pretty broken English. She was trying so hard to +speak like Rosanna and Helen that she could +scarcely be prevailed upon to say anything in +French.</p> + +<p>Many months had passed since Elise, in the care +of the kind ladies of the American Red Cross, had +come over from France to her adopted guardian, +young Mr. Horton. She had grown to be quite +American during that time, and was very proud +of her attainments. The dark and dreadful past +was indeed far behind, and while she sometimes +wept for her dear grandmother, who had died in +Mr. Horton’s tender arms in the old château at +home, she loved her foster mother, Mrs. Hargrave, +with all her heart. And with Elise laughing and +dancing through it, the great old Hargrave house +was changed indeed. While Elise was crossing the +ocean, Mrs. Hargrave had fitted up three rooms +for her. There was a sitting-room, that was like +the sunny outdoors, with its dainty flowered +chintzes, its ivory wicker furniture, its plants and +canaries singing in wicker cages. Then there was +a bedroom that simply put you to sleep just to look +at it: all blue and silver, like a summer evening. +Nothing sang here, but there was a big music box, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span> +old as Mrs. Hargrave herself, that tinkled Elise to +sleep if she so wished. And the bathroom was +papered so that you didn’t look at uninteresting +tiles set like blocks when you splashed around in +the tub. No; there seemed to be miles and miles +of sunny sea-beach with little shells lying on the +wet sand and sea gulls swinging overhead.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave was so delighted with all this +when it was finished that it made her discontented +with her own sitting-room with its dim old hangings +and walnut furniture.</p> + +<p>“No wonder I was beginning to grow old,†she +said to her life-long friend, Mrs. Horton. “No +wonder at all! All this dismal old stuff is going +up in the attic. I shall bring down my great great-grandmother’s +mahogany and have all my wicker +furniture cushioned with parrots and roses.â€</p> + +<p>“It sounds dreadful,†said Mrs. Horton.</p> + +<p>“It won’t be,†retorted her friend. “It will be +perfectly lovely. Did you know that I can play +the piano? I can, and well. I had forgotten it. +I am going to have birds too—not canaries, but +four cunning little green love-birds. They are going +to have all that bay window for themselves. +And I shall have a quarter grand piano put right +there.â€</p> + +<p>“I do think you are foolish,†said Mrs. Horton, +who was a cautious person. “What if this child +turns out to be a failure? All you have is my son’s +word for it, and what does a boy twenty-four years +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> +old know about little girls? You ought to wait +and see what sort of a child she is.â€</p> + +<p>“I have faith, my dear,†said her friend. “I +have been so lonely for so many long years that I +feel sure that at last the good Lord is going to send +me a real little daughter.â€</p> + +<p>“Cross-eyed perhaps and with a frightful disposition,†+said Mrs. Horton. “All children look +like angels to Robert.â€</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave was plucky. “Very well, then; +I can afford to have her eyes straightened, and I +will see what I can do about the temper.â€</p> + +<p>“I won’t tease you any more,†said Mrs. Horton. +“Robert says the child is charming and good as +gold. I know you will be happy with her, and if +you find that she is too much of a care for you, you +can simply throw her right back on Robert’s hands. +I don’t like to have him feel that he has no responsibility +in the matter.â€</p> + +<p>Elise proved to be all that Mrs. Hargrave had +dreamed, and more. She sang like a bird and Mrs. +Hargrave found her old skill returning as she +played accompaniments or taught Elise to play on +the pretty piano. And the little girl, who was +perfectly happy, repaid her over and over in love +and a thousand sweet and pretty attentions. Dear +Mrs. Hargrave, who had been so lonely that she +had not cared particularly whether she lived or +died, found herself wishing for many years of +life.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> + +<p>The three little girls, Elise, Rosanna, of whom +you have perhaps read, and her friend Helen Culver +were great friends.</p> + +<p>They went to school and studied and played together, +and Rosanna and Helen were both Girl +Scouts. Elise was to join too, as soon as she could +qualify. At present, as Uncle Robert said slangily, +she was “stuck on pie.†She could not make a +crust that could be cut or even <i>sawed</i> apart although +she tried to do so with all the earnestness in +the world.</p> + +<p>Perhaps you girls who are reading this remember +Rosanna. If so, you will be glad to know that she +grew well and strong again after her accident and +continued to be a very happy little girl who was +devoted to her grandmother, who in turn was devoted +to Rosanna. The beautiful hair that Rosanna +had cut off was allowed to stay docked, and +that was a great relief to Rosanna, who was always +worried by the weight of the long curls that hung +over her shoulders like a dark glistening cape. It +seemed <i>such</i> fun to be able to shake her head like +a pony and send the short, thick mane flying now +that it was cut off.</p> + +<p>There were three people in Rosanna’s home: her +stately grandmother Mrs. Horton, Uncle Robert, +of whom you have heard, and Rosanna herself. +Rosanna had had a maid, of whom she was very +fond, but Minnie was at home preparing to marry +the young man to whom she had been engaged all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> +through the war. He was at home again, and together +they were fitting out a cunning little bungalow +in the Highlands. As soon as everything was +arranged quite to their satisfaction, they were going +to be married, and Minnie vowed that she could +never get married unless she could have a real +wedding with bridesmaids and all, and she had a +scheme! By the way she rolled her eyes and her +young man chuckled, it seemed as though it must +be a very wonderful scheme indeed, but although +all three girls hung around her neck and teased, +not another word would she say. Minnie had two +little sisters who were about the ages of Rosanna +and Elise and Helen, but they did not know what +the scheme was either. It was <i>very</i> trying.</p> + +<p>Helen Culver no longer lived over Mrs. Horton’s +garage and her father no longer drove the Horton +cars, but her home was very near in a dear little +apartment as sweet and clean and dainty as it +could be. Mr. Culver and Uncle Robert were often +together and did a good deal of figuring and drawing +but other than guessing that it was something +to do with Uncle Robert’s business, the children did +not trouble their heads.</p> + +<p>Helen was ahead of Rosanna in school. She had +had a better chance to start with, as Rosanna had +only had private teachers and so had had no reason +to strive to forge ahead. There had been no +one to get ahead <i>of</i>! Now, however, she was studying +to such good purpose that she hoped soon to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span> +overtake Helen. But it was a hard task, because +Helen was a very bright little girl who could and +would and <i>did</i> put her best effort in everything +she did.</p> + +<p>These, then, were the three little girls who sat +on Rosanna’s doorstep and smelled the burning +leaves and enjoyed the beautiful fall day.</p> + +<p>“Rosanna is so good at making plans,†said +Helen, smiling over at her friend.</p> + +<p>“What shall your good plan be for?†asked +Elise.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you remember, Elise, our telling you +about the picnic we had once, and the children who +took supper with us?â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, <i>oui</i>—yess, yess!†said Elise, correcting +herself hastily.</p> + +<p>“And we told you how we took them home and +saw poor Gwenny, their sister, who is so lame that +she cannot walk at all, and is so good and patient +about it? We mean to take you over to see her, +now that you can speak English so nicely. She +wants to see you so much.â€</p> + +<p>“I would be charm to go,†declared Elise, nodding +her curly head.</p> + +<p>“Well,†continued Rosanna, “Gwenny’s mother +says that Gwenny could be cured, but that it would +cost more than she could ever pay, and it is +nothing that she could get done at the free dispensaries. +Those are places where very, very +poor people can go and get good doctors and nurses +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> +and advice without paying anything at all, but +Gwenny could not go there.</p> + +<p>“She would have to go to a big hospital in Cincinnati +and stay for a long while. I thought about +asking my grandmother if she would like to send +Gwenny there, but just as I was going to speak +of it last night, she commenced to talk to Uncle +Robert about money, and I heard her tell him that +she was never so hard up in her life, and what with +the Liberty Loan drives taking all her surplus out +of the banks, and the high rate of taxes, she didn’t +know what she was going to do. So I couldn’t say +a thing.â€</p> + +<p>“The same with ma maman,†said Elise. “She +calls those same taxes robbers. So you make the +plan?â€</p> + +<p>“That’s just it: I <i>don’t</i>,†said Rosanna ruefully. +“I wish I could think up some way to earn +money, a lot of it ourselves.â€</p> + +<p>“Let’s do it!†said Helen in her brisk, decided +way.</p> + +<p>“But <i>how</i>?†questioned Rosanna. “It will take +such a lot of money, Helen. Hundreds and hundreds +of dollars, maybe <i>thousands</i>.â€</p> + +<p>“I should think the thing to do would be to ask +a doctor exactly how much it would cost, first of +all,†said the practical Helen.</p> + +<p>“Another thing,†said Rosanna, “Gwenny’s +family is very proud. They don’t like to feel that +people are taking care of them. The Associated +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> +Charities gave Gwenny a chair once, so she could +wheel herself around, but it made them feel badly, +although Gwenny’s mother said she knew that it +was the right thing to accept it.â€</p> + +<p>“She will feel that it is the thing to do if we +can pay to have Gwenny cured too,†said Helen. +“You know how sensible she is, Rosanna. She +must realize that everybody knows that she does +all she can in this world for her family. I heard +mother say she never saw any woman work so hard +to keep a home for her children.</p> + +<p>“Mother says she never rests. And she is not +trained, you know, to do special work like typewriting, +or anything that is well paid, so she has +to be a practical nurse and things like that.â€</p> + +<p>“Aren’t all nurses practical?†asked Rosanna, +a frown of perplexity on her brow.</p> + +<p>“Trained nurses are not,†replied Helen. +“Trained nurses get thirty and forty dollars a week +and a practical nurse gets seven or eight, and works +harder. But you see she never had a chance to +get trained. It takes a long time, like going to +school and graduating, only you go to the hospital +instead.â€</p> + +<p>“I know,†said Rosanna. “There were what +they called undergraduate nurses at the Norton +Infirmary and they wore a different uniform. But +they were all pretty, and so good to me.â€</p> + +<p>“Well, you can’t do much on what Gwenny’s +mother makes,†said Helen.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> + +<p>Elise sighed. “It is so sad,†she declared. “Do +the robber taxes attack her also?â€</p> + +<p>“No; she has nothing to attack,†laughed Helen.</p> + +<p>“Is Mees Gwenny a Girl Scout?†asked Elise.</p> + +<p>“No, but her sister Mary is. She went in about +the time Rosanna joined, but she does not belong +to our group. They live in another part of the +city.â€</p> + +<p>“Will my allowance help?†asked Elise. “I +will give it so gladly. Ma maman is so good, so generous! +I never can spend the half. I save it to +help a little French child, but surely if Mees +Gwenny is your dear friend and she suffers——â€</p> + +<p>“She suffers all right,†declared Helen. “Oh, +Rosanna, we have <i>got</i> to think up some way to help +her! I am going to ask mother.â€</p> + +<p>“Helen, do you remember what our Captain said +at the very last meeting? No, you were not there; +I remember now. She said that we must learn to +act for ourselves and not forever be asking help +from our families. She said that we should always +consult them before we made any important move, +but she wanted us to learn to use our own brains. +Now it does look to me as though this was a time +to use all the brains we have. Think how wonderful +it would be if we could only do this ourselves!â€</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by <i>we</i>? Just us three, or +the Girl Scouts in our group?†asked Helen.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,†said Rosanna dismally. “I +really haven’t the first idea! Let’s all think.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chII'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER II</p> +</div> + + +<p>Three in a row, they sat and thought while the +leaf piles smouldered and the afternoon went by. +Plan after plan was offered and discussed and cast +aside. At last Elise glanced at her little silver +wrist watch, and wound up her scarf.</p> + +<p>“Time for maman to come home,†she said. +“She likes it when I meet her at the door with my +love, and myself likes it too.â€</p> + +<p>“Of course you do, you dear!†said Helen. +“Good-bye! We will keep on thinking and perhaps +tomorrow we will be able to get hold of some +plan that will be worth acting on. I must go too, +Rosanna.â€</p> + +<p>“I will walk around the block with you,†said +Rosanna, rising and calling a gay good-bye after +Elise. She went with Helen almost to the door +of her apartment and then returned very slowly. +How she did long to help Gwenny! There must +be some way. Poor patient, uncomplaining +Gwenny! Rosanna could not think of her at all +without an ache in her heart. She was so thin and +her young face had so many, <i>many</i> lines of pain.</p> + +<p>She was so thoughtful at dinner time that her +Uncle Robert teased her about it. He wanted to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +know if she had robbed a bank or had decided to +run off and get married and so many silly things +that his mother told him to leave Rosanna alone. +Rosanna smiled and simply went on thinking. +After dinner she slipped away and went up to her +own sitting-room. Then Uncle Robert commenced +to worry in earnest. He had his hat in his hand +ready to go over and see Mr. Culver, but he put it +down again and went up to Rosanna’s room, three +steps at a time.</p> + +<p>Rosanna called “Come,†in answer to his knock +in quite her usual tone of voice, and Uncle Robert +heaved a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p>He stuck his head in the door, and said in a meek +tone: “I thought I would come up to call on you, +Princess. Mother is expecting a bridge party, and +it is no place for me.â€</p> + +<p>“That is what I thought,†said Rosanna. “Besides +I wanted to think.â€</p> + +<p>“Well, I am known as a hard thinker myself,†+said Uncle Robert. “If you will invite the part +of me that is out here in the hall to follow my head, +I will be glad to help you if I can.â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why I shouldn’t tell you about things +anyway,†mused Rosanna. “You are not a parent, +are you?â€</p> + +<p>“No, ma’am, I am <i>not</i>,†said Uncle Robert. +“Nary a parent! Why?â€</p> + +<p>He came in without a further invitation and sat +down in Rosanna’s biggest chair. At that it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +squeaked in an alarming manner, and Uncle Robert +made remarks about furniture that wouldn’t hold +up a growing boy like himself. When he appeared +to be all settled and comfortable, and Rosanna had +shoved an ash tray over in a manner that Uncle +Robert said made him feel like an old married man, +he said, “Now fire ahead!†and Rosanna did.</p> + +<p>She told him all about Gwenny and her family—her +mother and Mary and selfish Tommy, and good +little Myron, and Luella and the heavy baby, and +the story was so well told that Uncle Robert had +hard work holding himself down. He felt as +though the check book in his pocket was all full +of prickers which were sticking into him, and in +another pocket a bank book with a big, big deposit, +put in it that very day, kept shouting, “Take care +of Gwenny yourself!†so loudly that he was sure +Rosanna must hear.</p> + +<p>But Uncle Robert knew that that was not the +thing for him to do. He could not take all the +beauty and generosity out of their effort when +their dear little hearts were so eagerly trying to +find a way to help.</p> + +<p>He hushed the bank book up as best he could and +said to Rosanna, “I don’t worry a minute about +this thing, Rosanna. I know perfectly well that +you will think up some wonderful plan that will +bring you wads of money, and as long as I am <i>not</i> +a parent, I don’t see why I can’t be your councillor. +There might be things that I could attend to. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +could take the tickets at the door or something +like that.â€</p> + +<p>“Tickets!†said Rosanna, quite horrified. +“Why, Uncle Bob, we can’t give a <i>show</i>!â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why not, if you know what you want +to show,†answered Uncle Robert. “You see benefit +performances given all the time for singers and +pianists and actors who want to retire with a good +income. Some of them have one every year, but +you couldn’t do that for Gwenny. However I’ll +stand by whenever you want me, you may feel sure +of that, and if I can advance anything in the way of +a little money—†he tapped the bank book, which +jumped with joy.</p> + +<p>“Oh, thank you!†said Rosanna. “We will be +sure to tell you as soon as we can hit on a plan, and +we will have you to go to for advice, and that will +be such a help!â€</p> + +<p>After Uncle Bob had taken himself off, Rosanna +went slowly to bed. She thought while she was +undressing and after she had put out the light +and was waiting for her grandmother to come in +and kiss her good-night. And the last thing before +she dropped off to sleep her mind was whirling +with all sorts of wild ideas, but not one seemed to +be just what was wanted. One thing seemed to +grow clearer and bigger and stronger, and that was +the feeling that Gwenny must be helped.</p> + +<p>The first thing that she and Helen asked each +other the next day when they met on the way to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +school was like a chorus. They both said, “Did +you think of anything?†and neither one had.</p> + +<p>Sad to relate, neither Rosanna nor Helen made +brilliant recitations that day, and coming home +from school Helen said gravely, “What marks did +you get today, Rosanna?â€</p> + +<p>“Seventy,†answered Rosanna with a flush.</p> + +<p>“I got seventy-two, and it was a review. Oh +dear, this won’t do at all! I was thinking about +Gwenny, and trying to work up a plan so hard that +I just couldn’t study. Either we have positively +got to think up something right away, or else we +will have to make up our minds that we must do +our thinking on Saturdays only. Can’t you think +of a single thing?â€</p> + +<p>“I seem to have glimmers of an idea,†said +Rosanna, “but not very bright ones.â€</p> + +<p>“All I can think of is to get all the girls in our +group to make fancy things and have a fair.â€</p> + +<p>“That is not bad,†said Rosanna, “but would +we make enough to count for much? Even if all +the girls in our group should go to work and work +every single night after school we would not be +able to make enough fancy articles to make a whole +sale.â€</p> + +<p>“I suppose not,†sighed Helen. “This is Thursday. +If we can’t think of something between now +and Saturday afternoon, let’s tell the girls about +it at the meeting and see what they suggest, and +ask if they would like to help Gwenny. But oh, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +I wish we could be the ones to think up something! +You see Gwenny sort of belongs to us, and I feel +as though we ought to do the most of the work.â€</p> + +<p>That night at dinner there was a guest at +Rosanna’s house, young Doctor MacLaren, who had +been in service with Uncle Robert. Rosanna quite +lost her heart to him, he was so quiet and so gentle +and smiled so sweetly at her grandmother. She +sat still as a mouse all through the meal, listening +and thinking.</p> + +<p>After dinner when they had all wandered into +the lovely old library that smelled of books, she +sat on the arm of her Uncle Robert’s chair, and +while her grandmother was showing some pictures +to the doctor, she whispered to her uncle, “Don’t +you suppose the doctor could tell us how much it +would cost to cure Gwenny?â€</p> + +<p>“You tickle my ear!†he said, and bit Rosanna’s.</p> + +<p>“Behave!†said Rosanna sternly. “Don’t you +suppose he could?â€</p> + +<p>“I am sure he could, sweetness, but I sort o’ +think he would have to see Gwenny first. Shall +we ask him about it?â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, please let’s!†begged Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Th’ deed is did!†said Uncle Robert, and as +soon as he could break into the conversation, he +said: “Rick, Rosanna and I want to consult you.â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna squeezed his hand for that; it was so +much nicer than to put it all off on her.</p> + +<p>Doctor MacLaren laughed his nice, friendly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +laugh. “Well, if you are both in some scheme, I +should say it was time for honest fellows like me +to be careful. Let’s hear what it is.â€</p> + +<p>“You tell, Rosanna,†said Uncle Robert. “I +can’t talk and smoke all at the same time.â€</p> + +<p>So Rosanna, very brave because of Uncle Robert’s +strong arm around her, commenced at the beginning +and told all about Gwenny and her family, +and her bravery in bearing the burden of her lameness +and ill health. And she went on to tell him +about the Girl Scouts and all the good they do, +and that she was sure that they would help, but +they (she and Helen) hated to put it before the +meeting unless they had some idea of the amount +of money it would be necessary for them to earn. +And another thing; what if they should start to +get the money, and couldn’t? What a <i>dreadful</i> +disappointment it would be for Gwenny and indeed +all the family down to Baby Christopher!</p> + +<p>The two young men heard her out. Then Uncle +Robert said:</p> + +<p>“I don’t know the exact reason, but it seems +that you cannot work with these Girl Scouts if +you are a parent. Are you a parent, Rick?â€</p> + +<p>“Please don’t tease, Uncle Bobby,†said Rosanna +pleadingly. “It is only that we Scout girls are +supposed to try to do things ourselves without expecting +all sorts of help from our mothers and +fathers—and grandmothers and uncles,†she +added rather pitifully.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> + +<p>Robert patted her hand. Rosanna was an +orphan.</p> + +<p>“I see now how it is,†he said. “Tell us, Rick, +what you think about this.â€</p> + +<p>“I think that Saturday morning, when there is +no school, Rosanna might take me to call on Miss +Gwenny and we will see about what the trouble is. +And I think as she does, that it would be very wise +to say nothing at all about this plan until we know +something about the case. It would be cruel to +get the child’s hopes up for nothing. If there is +anything that I dare do, I will promise you now +that I will gladly do it, but I cannot tell until I +see her.â€</p> + +<p>“Thank you ever and ever so much!†said +Rosanna. “We won’t tell anyone a thing about +it!â€</p> + +<p>“Can you drive over to Gwenny’s tomorrow and +tell her mother that a doctor friend of mine is coming +to see her?†asked Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>“Indeed I can if grandmother is willing!†said +Rosanna. “Oh, I <i>do</i> feel as though we will think +up some way of earning the money!â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna was so happy that she overslept next +morning and was nearly late getting to school, so +she did not see Helen until they were dismissed. +They walked slowly home and sat down on their favorite +place on the top step. They had been sitting +quietly, watching a group of children playing in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +leaves, when Rosanna jumped to her feet and commenced +to dance up and down.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Helen, Helen,†she cried. “I believe I +have it! I believe I have it! Oh, I am <i>so</i> excited!â€</p> + +<p>“Well, do tell me!†exclaimed Helen.</p> + +<p>“That is just what I am going to do,†said +Rosanna, still dancing. “Let’s go around in the +garden and sit in the rose arbor where no one will +disturb us.â€</p> + +<p>“That is the thing to do,†agreed Helen, and +together they went skipping through the iron gateway +that led into the lovely old garden. Once upon +a time that gate had been kept locked and little +Rosanna had been almost a prisoner among the +flowers and trees that made the garden so lovely. +But now the gate swung on well-oiled hinges and +all the little Girl Scouts were welcome to come +and play with Rosanna in her playhouse or ride +her fat little pony around the gravelled paths.</p> + +<p>The children banged the gate shut behind them +and went to the most sheltered spot in the garden, +the rose arbor, where they were hidden from +view. They threw their school books on the rustic +table and settled themselves in two big chairs.</p> + +<p>“Now <i>do go on</i>,†said Helen with a little thrill +in her voice. “Oh, I <i>do</i> feel that you have thought +up something splendid!â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chIII'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER III</p> +</div> + + +<p>“I have been thinking and thinking,†said Rosanna, +“and not an idea have I had until just now. +Here is what I just thought up.</p> + +<p>“You know Uncle Bob was telling me about +benefit performances that actors and musicians +have. I think they get them up themselves mostly, +when they want some money, but I was talking to +Minnie about it yesterday when she came in for a +minute and she says in her church they have benefits +all the time. People sing and play and recite +poetry, and it is lovely. And I thought up something +better still.</p> + +<p>“What if you and I, Helen, could make up a +sort of play all about the Girl Scouts and give it?â€</p> + +<p>“Write it out of our heads?†said Helen, quite +aghast.</p> + +<p>“Yes,†said Rosanna. “It is easy. Before +grandmother used to let me have little girls to +play with, I used to make up plays, oh lots of +times!â€</p> + +<p>“With conversations?†pressed Helen.</p> + +<p>“Yes, made up of conversations and coming on +the stage and going off again, and people dying, +and everything.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> + +<p>“Dear me!†said Helen with the air of one who +never suspected such a thing of a friend. “<i>Dear +me!</i>†she said again. “I am sure I could <i>never</i> +do it. You will have to do it yourself. What +is it going to be about?â€</p> + +<p>“Why, I have to have time to think,†said +Rosanna. “You have to think a long time when +you are going to be an author. It is very difficult.â€</p> + +<p>“You don’t suppose you are all out of practice, +do you?†asked Helen anxiously. “Why, Rosanna, +that would be too perfectly splendid! A +real play! Where could we give it? We couldn’t +rent a real theatre.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, my, no!†said Rosanna, beginning to be +rather frightened at the picture Helen was conjuring +up. “We won’t have that sort of a play. +We will have a little one that we can give in grandmother’s +parlor, or over at Mrs. Hargrave’s.â€</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t,†said Helen stoutly. “I just know +you can write a beautiful play, Rosanna, and I +think we ought to give it in some big place where +a lot of people can come, and we will have tickets, +and chairs all in rows and a curtain and everything.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, I don’t believe I could write a good enough +play for all that,†cried Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Well, just do the best you can and I know it +will be perfectly lovely.â€</p> + +<p>“I tell you what,†said Rosanna, beginning to +be sorry that she had spoken. “Please don’t tell +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span> +Elise or anyone about it until I see what I can +write, and then after you and I have read it, if it +is good enough, we will show it to Uncle Robert +and see what he says.â€</p> + +<p>“It <i>will</i> be good enough,†said Helen positively. +“Just think of the piece of poetry you wrote to +read at the Girl Scout meeting. It was so lovely +that I ’most cried. All that part about the new +moon, and how you felt when you died. It sounded +so true, and yet I don’t see how you know how you +are going to feel when you die. I can’t feel it at +all. I suppose that is because you are a poet. +Mother says it is a great and beautiful thing to +be a poet, but that you must look out for your +digestion.â€</p> + +<p>“My digestion is all right so far,†said Rosanna. +“I am glad to know that, though, because if your +mother says so, it must be so.â€</p> + +<p>“Of course!†said Helen proudly. “When +will you begin your play, Rosanna?â€</p> + +<p>“Right away after dinner,†said Rosanna. +“That is, if Uncle Robert goes out. If he stays +at home I will have to play cribbage with him. +If I go off to my own room, he comes right up. +He says he is afraid that I will get to nursing a +secret sorrow.â€</p> + +<p>“What is a secret sorrow?†asked Helen.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know exactly,†said Rosanna. “Uncle +Robert looked sort of funny when I asked him, and +perhaps he made it up because he just said, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +‘Why—er, why—er, a secret sorrow is—don’t you +know what it is, Rosanna?’â€</p> + +<p>“Sometimes I wonder if your Uncle Robert +really means all he says,†said Helen suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“I wonder too,†agreed Rosanna, nodding, “but +he is a perfect dear, anyway, even if he is old. He +is twenty-four, and grandmother is always saying +that Robert is old enough to know better.â€</p> + +<p>“I know he will be all sorts of help about our +play, anyway,†said Helen.</p> + +<p>“I know he will too,†said Rosanna. “We will +show him the play the minute I finish it.â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna went right to work on her play whenever +she had any time to spare.</p> + +<p>When Saturday morning came she went with +Doctor MacLaren to see Gwenny, and after she +had introduced him to Gwenny’s mother she went +and sat in the automobile with Mary and Luella +and Myron and Baby Christopher to talk to. But +she scarcely knew what she was saying because she +was so busy wondering what the doctor would do +to poor Gwenny, whose back nearly killed her if +anyone so much as touched it.</p> + +<p>The doctor stayed a long, long time, and when +he came out he stood and talked and talked with +Gwenny’s mother. He smiled his kind, grave smile +at her very often, but when he turned away and +came down the little walk Rosanna fancied that he +looked graver than usual.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> + +<p>“Is she <i>very</i> bad?†Rosanna asked when the +machine was started.</p> + +<p>“Pretty bad, Rosanna dear,†said the doctor. +“She will need a very serious operation that cannot +be done here. She will have to go to a hospital +in Cincinnati where there is a wonderful surgeon, +Doctor Branshaw, who specializes in troubles of the +spine. He will help her if anyone can. She is +in a poor condition anyway, and we will have to +look after her pretty sharply to get her in as good +a shape physically as we can. If she goes, I will +take her myself, and will have her given the best +care she can have. What a dear, patient, sweet +little girl she is.â€</p> + +<p>“Yes, she is!†agreed Rosanna absently. +“Well, if she is as sick as you think, I don’t see +but what we will just <i>have</i> to earn the money +some way or other!†Rosanna was very silent +all the way home, and that afternoon she retired +to the rose arbor and worked as hard as ever she +could on the play. It was really taking shape. +Rosanna would not show the paper to Helen or to +Elise, who had been told the great secret. She +wanted to finish it and surprise them.</p> + +<p>By four o’clock she was so tired that she could +write no longer. She put her tablet away and +started to the telephone to call Helen. As she +went down the hall the door bell rang. She could +see a familiar figure dancing up and down outside +the glass door. It was Elise, apparently in a great +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +state of excitement. Rosanna ran and opened the +door.</p> + +<p>Elise danced in. She caught Rosanna around +the waist and whirled her round and round.</p> + +<p>“Behold I have arrive, I have arrive!†she sang.</p> + +<p>“Of course you have arrived!†said Rosanna. +“What makes you feel like this about it?â€</p> + +<p>“Behold!†said Elise again with a sweeping +gesture toward the front door.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hargrave’s house-boy, grinning from ear to +ear, was coming slowly up the steps bearing a large +covered tray. Elise took it from him with the +greatest care and set it carefully on a table.</p> + +<p>“Approach!†she commanded, and Rosanna, +really curious, drew near the mysterious article. +Slowly Elise drew off the cover. Under it in all +the glory of a golden brown crust, little crinkles +all about the edge, sat a pie looking not only good +enough to eat, but almost <i>too</i> good.</p> + +<p>“Peench off a tiny, tiny bit of ze frill,†said Elise, +pointing to the scallopy edge. “A very tiny +peench, and you will see how good. Now I can +be the Girl Scout because all the other things I +can so well do.â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna took a careful pinch and found the crust +light and very flaky and dry.</p> + +<p>“Perfectly delicious, Elise!†she pronounced it. +“Did you do it all yourself?â€</p> + +<p>“Of a certainty!†said Elise proudly. “I would +not do the which otherwise than as it is so required +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> +by the Girl Scouts. And now I am most proud. +If you will so kindly take me when you go to the +meeting this afternoon, I will offer this to the most +adorable little Captain as one more reason the why +I should be allowed to join.â€</p> + +<p>“Of course I will take you,†said Rosanna. “I +was just going to telephone for Helen. If she is +ready we will start at once.â€</p> + +<p>“I will go for my hat,†said Elise. Then anxiously, +“Will the beautiful pie rest here in safety?â€</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed; it will be perfectly safe,†laughed +Rosanna.</p> + +<p>Elise was the happiest little girl in all the room +at the meeting. Everyone fell in love with her at +once, her manners were so gentle and pretty and she +was so full of life. Her curls danced and her eyes, +and her red lips smiled, and it seemed as though +her feet wanted to dance instead of going in a humdrum +walk. The Scout Captain and the committee +on pie decided that Elise had made the most delicious +of its kind.</p> + +<p>At the close of the business part of the meeting, +the Captain asked as usual if anyone had any news +of interest to offer or any requests or questions +to ask. It was all Rosanna could do to keep from +telling them all about Gwenny and asking for advice +and help, but she decided to keep it all to herself +until she had finished the play. Then if it +turned out to be any good (and it would be easy +to tell that by showing it to Uncle Bob) she would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +take it to the Captain, and if she approved, Rosanna +would bring the whole thing up before the next +meeting.</p> + +<p>On the way home, Helen said to Rosanna, “How +are you getting on with your play, Rosanna? Did +you work on it this afternoon as you expected to?â€</p> + +<p>“Yes, I did, and it seems to be coming along +beautifully,†said Rosanna. “I wanted to ask you +about it. Don’t you think it would be nice to put +in a couple of songs about the Girl Scouts, and +perhaps a dance?â€</p> + +<p>“Simply splendid!†said Helen. “Oh, Rosanna, +<i>do</i> hurry! I can scarcely wait for you to finish +it. Girl Scout songs and a Girl Scout dance! Do +you know the Webster twins can dance beautifully? +Their mother used to be a dancer on the stage before +she married their father, and she has taught them +the prettiest dances. They do them together. +They are awfully poor, and I don’t know if they +could afford to get pretty dancing dresses to wear, +but I should think we could manage somehow.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, we will,†said Rosanna. “I <i>do</i> wish we +could have our families help us!â€</p> + +<p>“Think how surprised they will be if we do this +all by ourselves except what Uncle Bob does, and +our Scout Captain.â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t see that Uncle Bob can do very much,†+rejoined Rosanna. “But he is real interested and +wants to help.â€</p> + +<p>“We ought to let him do whatever he can,†said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +Helen. “Father often tells mother that he hopes +she notices how much she depends on his superior +intellect, but she just laughs and says ‘Nonsense! +Helen, don’t listen to that man at all!’ But we +must depend on our own superior intellects +now.â€</p> + +<p>“It won’t take me long to finish the play,†said +Rosanna. “It is only going to be a one-act play, +and if it isn’t long enough to make a whole entertainment, +we will have to have some recitations +and songs before and after it.â€</p> + +<p>“I do think you might let me see what you have +written,†coaxed Helen.</p> + +<p>“I would rather not,†pleaded Rosanna. +“Somehow I feel as though I couldn’t finish it if +I should show it to anyone before it is done. I +will show it to you the very first one, Helen. Here +is one thing you can hear.â€</p> + +<p>She took a crumpled piece of paper from her +pocket, and while Helen walked very close beside +her commenced: “This is a song sung by two +sisters named Elsie and Allis. And you will see +what it is all about.â€</p> + +<p>“Is there a tune for it too?†said Helen in great +wonder.</p> + +<p>“No, I can’t make up music,†said Rosanna regretfully, +“and, anyhow, I think it would come +easier to use a tune everybody knows. This goes +to the tune of <i>Reuben, Reuben, I’ve been Thinking</i>. +You know that?â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> + +<p>“Of course,†said Helen. “Now let’s hear the +poetry.â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna had written:</p> + +<p>“Two girls come on the stage, one from the right +and one from the left. One is dressed in beautiful +clothes, and the other very neat and clean, but in +awfully poor things. She has on a thin shawl. +She is Elsie. The rich child is Allis. Allis sees +Elsie, and sings:</p> + +<div> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>SONG</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Air, <i>Reuben, Reuben, I’ve Been Thinking</i>.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>Allis.</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Elsie, Elsie, I’ve been thinking</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>What a pleasure it would be,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>If we had some friends or sisters</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Just to play with you and me.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>All our time we spend in study</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>There is no place nice to go.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>After school an hour of practice</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Oh, I get to hate it so!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>Chorus</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Just an hour or two of practice,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>One and two and three and four;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Add, subtract, or find the tangent;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Everything is just a bore!</p> +</div> + +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +<div> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>Elsie.</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Then, dear Allis, when we finish,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>We can go and take a walk;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>That, unless the day is rainy,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Then we just sit down and talk.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>And there’s not a thing to talk of,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Not a scheme or plan to make,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Not a deed of gentle loving,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Nothing done for Someone’s sake.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>Chorus</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Not a thing for us to aim for—</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Not a height for us to climb!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Just the stupid task of living;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Just the bore of passing time!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>Enter Girl Scout with many Merit Badges on her sleeve.</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>Girl Scout.</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Did I hear you wish for friendships?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Mates to join in work and play?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Someone true and good and loving</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>You would chum with every day?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>See this uniform? It tells you</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>You can wear it; be a Scout!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>See the sleeve with all the “Meritsâ€?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>You could win without a doubt.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>Chorus</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><i>All—</i></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Oh, what fun we’ll have together!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>Oh, what work and jolly play!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Walks and talks and happy study</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 6ex'>With the Girl Scouts every day.</p> +</div> + +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chIV'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER IV</p> +</div> + + +<p>When Rosanna finished, Helen gave a sigh of +delight.</p> + +<p>“Rosanna,†she said, “it is perfectly beautiful; +perfectly <i>beautiful</i>! Shall you have the Webster +girls sing that?â€</p> + +<p>“I had not thought of them,†confessed Rosanna. +“I thought it would be nice for Elise and you, +Helen. You both sing so sweetly and you can both +dance too.â€</p> + +<p>“I shall be frightened to death,†said Helen, +trying to imagine herself on a real little stage; at +least on a make-believe stage with a curtain +stretched across Mrs. Horton’s or Mrs. Hargrave’s +parlor. But frightened or not, she was more than +pleased that Rosanna had thought of her, and she +had no intention of giving up the part.</p> + +<p>She and Elise commenced to practice on the song, +and between them made up the prettiest little +dance. Mrs. Culver and Mrs. Hargrave were delighted +to play their accompaniments and suggest +steps. Of course they had to be told something of +what was going on, but they were very nice and +asked no questions.</p> + +<p>A week later Rosanna’s little play was finished +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +and ready to show Uncle Robert. Rosanna was as +nervous as a real playwright when he has to read +his lines to a scowly, faultfinding manager. She +invited Helen over to spend the night with her so +she could attend the meeting.</p> + +<p>Her grandmother was out to a dinner-bridge +party, so Rosanna and Helen and Uncle Robert +went up to Rosanna’s sitting-room and prepared to +read her play. And if the truth must be told, +Uncle Robert prepared to be a little bored. But +as Rosanna read on and on in her pleasant voice, +stopping once in awhile to explain things, Uncle +Robert’s expression changed from a look of patient +listening to one of amusement and then to admiration. +By the time Rosanna had finished he was +sitting leaning forward in his chair and listening +with all his might. He clapped his hands.</p> + +<p>“Well done, Rosanna!†he said heartily. “I +am certainly proud of you! Why, if you can do +things of this sort at your age, Rosanna, we will +have to give you a little help and instruction once +in awhile. Well, well, that <i>is</i> a play as <i>is</i> a play! +Don’t you think so, Helen?â€</p> + +<p>“It’s just too beautiful!†said Helen with a +sigh of rapture. “Just too beautiful! Which is +my part, Rosanna?â€</p> + +<p>“I thought you could be the little girl who discovers +the lost paper so the other little Girl Scout’s +brother will not have to go to prison. That is, if +you like that part.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> + +<p>“It is the nicest part of all,†sighed Helen. +“What part are you going to take?â€</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think I would take any,†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Oh, you must be in it!†cried Helen.</p> + +<p>“No, Rosanna is right,†declared Uncle Robert. +“It is her play, you see, and she will have to be +sitting out front at all the rehearsals to see that it +is being done as she wants it.â€</p> + +<p>“That is what I thought,†said Rosanna. “But +you are going to help with everything, are you not, +Uncle Robert?â€</p> + +<p>“Surest thing in the world!†declared Uncle +Robert heartily. “But as long as this is all about +the Girl Scouts, won’t you have to show it to your +Girl Scout Captain, or leader, before you go on +with it?â€</p> + +<p>“Of course,†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Who is she?†asked Uncle Robert carelessly.</p> + +<p>“Why, you saw her, Uncle Robert,†replied +Rosanna. “Have you forgotten the dear sweet +little lady who called when I was sick when we +were looking for someone very fierce and large?â€</p> + +<p>“Sure enough!†said Uncle Robert after some +thought. If Rosanna had noticed she would have +seen a very queer look in his eyes. He had liked +the looks of that young lady himself. “Well, what +are you going to do about it?â€</p> + +<p>“I suppose I will have to go around to her house, +and tell her all about it and read it to her.â€</p> + +<p>“Is it written so I can read it?†said Uncle +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +Robert, glancing over the pages. “Very neat indeed. +Now I will do something for you, if you +want me to save you the bother. Just to be obliging, +I will take your play and will go around and +tell Miss Hooker that I am Rosanna’s uncle, and +read it to her myself.â€</p> + +<p>“Why, you know her name!†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Um—yes,†said Uncle Robert. “I must have +heard it somewhere. For goodness’ sake, Rosanna, +this place is like an oven!â€</p> + +<p>“You <i>are</i> red,†admitted Rosanna. “Well, I +wish you would do that, please, because it makes +me feel so queer to read it myself. It won’t take +you long so we will wait up for you to tell us what +she thinks.â€</p> + +<p>“I wouldn’t wait up,†advised Uncle Robert, +getting up. “If she likes me, it may take some +time.â€</p> + +<p>“Likes <i>you</i>?†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“I mean likes the way I read it, and likes the +play, and likes the idea, and likes everything about +it,†said Uncle Robert. He said good-bye and hurried +off, bearing the precious paper.</p> + +<p>The girls sat and planned for awhile, when the +doorbell rang. Rosanna could hear the distant +tinkle, and saying “Perhaps he is back,†ran into +the hall to look over the banisters.</p> + +<p>She returned with a surprised look on her face.</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose?†she demanded of Helen +who sat drawing a plan of a stage. “It is Uncle +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +Robert, and Miss Hooker is with him. Oh, dear +me, I feel so fussed!â€</p> + +<p>“Come down!†called Uncle Robert, dashing in +the door. “I have a surprise for you both.â€</p> + +<p>“No, you haven’t! I looked over the banisters,†+said Rosanna, as the three went down the broad +stairs.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker thought the play was so good and +she was so proud to think that one of her girls had +written it that she was anxious to talk it over at +once, and had asked Uncle Robert to bring her right +around to see Rosanna and Helen.</p> + +<p>They all drew up around the big library table, +and Uncle Robert sat next Miss Hooker where +he could make suggestions. And Miss Hooker and +the girls made a list of characters, and fitted them +to different girls in their group. Finally Miss +Hooker said there were several places that needed +a little changing and would Rosanna trust her to +do it with Mr. Horton’s help? At this Uncle Robert +looked most beseechingly at Rosanna, who, of +course, said yes.</p> + +<p>“Where will we give it?†asked Helen. “As +long as it is a benefit we want a place large enough +for lots of people to come. All our families will +want to come, and all the Girl Scouts’ families, +and perhaps some other people besides.â€</p> + +<p>“We will give it here, won’t we, Uncle Robert? +Grandmother will let us, I’m sure. In the big +drawing-room, you know.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> + +<p>“Not big enough,†declared Uncle Robert, while +both girls exclaimed. “Now this is the part I can +help about and I have just had a great idea. You +all know that big barn of Mrs. Hargrave’s? We +boys used to play there on rainy days when we were +little. The whole top floor is one immense room. +We can give our entertainment there. Mrs. Hargrave +will give the barn, I know. And for my +contribution or part of it, I will see that you have +a stage and a curtain and all that.â€</p> + +<p>“How dear of you, Mr. Horton!†said Miss +Hooker.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Uncle Robert, a curtain that goes up and +down?â€</p> + +<p>“Of course,†said Uncle Robert, “and footlights +and everything.â€</p> + +<p>“O-o-o-o-h!†sighed both girls, and Miss Hooker +looked at Uncle Robert and smiled and he seemed +real pleased.</p> + +<p>“I think I must go if you will be kind enough +to take me home,†said Miss Hooker. “Rosanna, +you must tell the Girl Scouts about Gwenny at +the next meeting, and read your play. Then we +will get right to work, for the sooner this is staged, +the better. We don’t want to interfere with the +Christmas work.â€</p> + +<p>After Mr. Horton had taken the tiny little lady +home, the girls raced upstairs and went to bed, but +it was a long, long time before they could get to +sleep. They finally went off, however, and did not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +hear Uncle Robert when he came home whistling +gaily. They dreamed, however, both of them, of +acting before vast audiences that applauded all +their speeches. And at last Rosanna woke up with +a start to find that Helen was clapping her hands +furiously and stamping her feet against the footboard. +After Rosanna succeeded in awakening +her, they had a good laugh before they went to +sleep again.</p> + +<p>At breakfast Uncle Robert was full of plans for +the Benefit. “Miss Hooker and I went all over +your play last night, Rosanna,†he said, “and +smoothed out the rough places. You know every +manuscript has to be corrected. It is on the table +in my room. You had better read it over after +school, and if it suits your highness I will have it +typewritten for you, and you can go ahead. I am +going to see about the barn now, on my way down +town, and if Mrs. Hargrave is willing—and I am +sure she will be—I will get a carpenter to measure +for the staging. I suppose,†he added, “I ought to +ask Miss Hooker to look at the place and get some +suggestions from her?â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, I wouldn’t bother to wait for her,†said +Rosanna, who was wild to see the stage built. +“She won’t care what you do. If you like, I will +tell her how busy you are and that you won’t bother +to come around to her house any more because you +can attend to things just as well yourself.â€</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert looked hard at Rosanna. It was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +a queer look; sort of the look you would expect +from a cannibal uncle who has a little niece that +he wants to eat. Rosanna, catching the look, was +surprised and quite disturbed. But when Uncle +Robert spoke, he merely said, “Thank you, Rosanna; +but you see I <i>do</i> need Miss Hooker’s advice +very much indeed. The fact is I will never be +able to put this thing through as well as I want +to put it through unless I can consult with her +every day or so. In fact, if I cannot consult as +often as I need to, I will certainly have to give it +up. And that would be awful, wouldn’t it?â€</p> + +<p>“Of course it would, Uncle Robert,†answered +Rosanna. “I just hated to have you bothered.â€</p> + +<p>“I will stagger along under the burden,†said +Uncle Robert, trying to look like a martyr. “The +thing for you to do is to forget how hard I am +working and how much help I have to have doing +this, and get your girls to studying on their parts.â€</p> + +<p>“Miss Hooker says I am to read it at the Scout +meeting next week and then we will give out the +parts and let them be learning them.â€</p> + +<p>“All right, sweetness; get after them,†said +Uncle Robert, kissing Rosanna, and Helen, too, +“for luck†he said, and going off whistling.</p> + +<p>“I think the play is making Uncle Robert very +happy,†said Rosanna as the front door slammed +and she heard a merry whistle outside. “He is +a changed person these last few days.â€</p> + +<p>“That is what often happens,†said Helen. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +“Probably he did not have anything to occupy his +mind after business hours, so he was unhappy. +Mother says it is a serious condition to allow oneself +to be in. Now that he has our play to think +about, he feels altogether different. I do myself. +Do you know it is time to start for school? Let’s +be off so we won’t have to hurry, and we will have +time to stop for Elise.â€</p> + +<p>Elise was ready and the three girls sauntered +down the street together.</p> + +<p>As they passed a great imposing stone house, +Elise said, “It is a château—what you call castle, +isn’t it?â€</p> + +<p>“Yes,†said Rosanna, “and a cross old ogre lives +in it. He and his sister live there all alone, with +lots of maids and men to serve them, and he is so +growly-wowly that Minnie says even the grocer +boys are afraid of him. That is his car in front +of the door. Did you ever see anything so large?â€</p> + +<p>“Or so lovely?†added Elise. “If he was not +so ze what you just call growlee-wowlee, he might +carry us to school; not?â€</p> + +<p>“There he comes,†said Rosanna. “Does he look +as though he would carry any little girls <i>any</i>where +unless he carried them off to eat?â€</p> + +<p>The great carved door opened and an old gentleman +came down the steps. He walked with a cane +and to the children he seemed very old indeed with +his snow-white hair and fierce mustache. He +scowled as he came and stopped to switch with his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +cane at a vine that had straggled up the step. He +noticed the three girls approaching, and scowled +at them so fiercely that they involuntarily stopped +to let him pass. But he was in no hurry to do +so. When he had looked them over sufficiently, he +looked past them and snorted loudly at something +he saw up the street, but when the girls looked +around to see what was the matter, there was only +a little baby girl playing with a little woolly dog; +so they all looked back again at the old gentleman. +He seemed to fascinate them.</p> + +<p>Three pair of round eyes fixed on him caught +the old gentleman’s attention.</p> + +<p>“Well, well, well!†he said testily. “What do +you see? Come, come, speak out!â€</p> + +<p>Elise drew back but the other two stood their +ground, and Rosanna, who had seen him all her life +and was at least accustomed to him, said gently:</p> + +<p>“We see <i>you</i>, sir.â€</p> + +<p>“Ha hum!†sputtered the old gentleman, drawing +his fierce white eyebrows together. “What +about me, young woman, what about me to stare +at?â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna was distressed. There seemed nothing +to do but tell him the truth and that was almost +too awful. She smoothed it down as well as she +could.</p> + +<p>“If you will excuse me for saying so, you looked +a little cross,†she said, “and—and something +must be making you very unhappy.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span> + +<p>“It is,†said the ogre. “It makes me unhappy +to see what a silly no-account world this is; full +of small children, and woolly dogs, and things. +Kittens! Babies! Chickens! Bah! All making +noises! All getting up at daybreak to play and +meow and crow. Bah! Of course I am unhappy!â€</p> + +<p>He crossed the walk, waved the footman back +with his cane, stepped painfully into the car, and +with his own hand slammed the door shut. But +his anger blinded him. He did not take his hand +away soon enough, and the heavy door caught it. +With a cry of pain, he dropped back on the cushions. +The middle finger was crushed and bleeding +profusely.</p> + +<p>“Heaven protect us!†cried Elise.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman was almost fainting. Rosanna +did not hesitate. The Girl Scouts had to +understand First Aid. She ran up to the car and +entered it, tearing up her handkerchief as she did +so. Helen, close behind her, was doing the same +thing with hers.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chV'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER V</p> +</div> + + +<p>Gently but firmly taking the bleeding finger in +her little hand, Rosanna bound it up in the strips +of linen, folding them back and forth in quite a +professional manner. Helen helped her to tie the +bandages. Not until they had finished did they +take time to glance up at the old gentleman. He +was deathly white and leaned heavily against the +cushions.</p> + +<p>“Now, sir,†said Rosanna, “if you will have +your man drive you to a doctor, he will treat it +with an antiseptic and it will soon be all right.â€</p> + +<p>The old gentleman commenced to brace up as +he saw that the bleeding at least was checked. The +girls got out of the car, and the old gentleman with +a muttered, “Thank you, thank you,†gave an order +and the chauffeur drove rapidly away.</p> + +<p>“He said <i>thank you</i> once for each of us anyway,†+said Helen.</p> + +<p>Elise shuddered. “Your dress!†she said, pointing +to Rosanna. Sure enough, Rosanna was spattered +with blood.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear, I will have to be late,†she said. +“Just look at me! I will have to go back and put +on a clean dress.†She turned reluctantly and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +ran back home, while the others went on to school +and the automobile carried the old gentleman rapidly +to the office of his doctor.</p> + +<p>While the physician was attending to the hand, +the old gentleman, whose name was Harriman, +sat and sputtered:</p> + +<p>“First time I ever saw any children with a grain +of common sense!†he declared. “Little girl acted +in a fairly intelligent manner. Suppose it wouldn’t +happen again. Children never know anything, +especially girls. Bah!â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, they do, Mr. Harriman,†said Doctor +Greene soothingly. “Oh, yes, they do! Now I +have two little girls of my own, and I can tell +you—â€</p> + +<p>“Don’t!†said Mr. Harriman. “I make it a +point never to listen to fond parents. I am sure +the two girls who fixed me up were unusual—very +unusual.â€</p> + +<p>“Yes, they were,†said the doctor. “You will +have an easier time with this hand of yours, thanks +to their skill.â€</p> + +<p>“Queer!†said Mr. Harriman. “Seemed to +know just what to do.â€</p> + +<p>“Must have been Girl Scouts,†said the doctor +musingly.</p> + +<p>“Girl Scouts? What foolishness is that?†said +Mr. Harriman.</p> + +<p>The doctor smiled. He thought of his own two +daughters.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> + +<p>“Ask them about it,†he said, rising, and would +say no more.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harriman limped out.</p> + +<p>“What are Girl Scouts?†Mr. Harriman asked +his chauffeur as they drove to his office.</p> + +<p>“I dunno, sah,†said the colored man, starting. +He always jumped when Mr. Harriman spoke. +Everyone wanted to.</p> + +<p>“Idiot!†said Mr. Harriman.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sah,†said the chauffeur cheerfully.</p> + +<p>There seemed nothing else to say.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harriman’s hand healed very quickly for so +old a man, and the doctor stubbornly gave all the +credit to Rosanna’s first-aid treatment. Mr. Harriman +could say “Stuff and nonsense!†as many +times as he liked, but it made no difference to the +doctor, who smiled and refused to discuss the matter. +Mr. Harriman commenced to have a troublesome +conscience. He felt as though he should call +and thank the little girl who had befriended him +to such good purpose, especially as he had known +Rosanna’s grandmother all her life, but he could +not bring himself to do it and contented himself +with sending two immense wax dolls and a huge +box of candy to Rosanna’s house addressed to “The +two girls who recently bound up my hand.†Rosanna +and Helen were quite embarrassed, but Mrs. +Horton, who was immensely amused, told them that +all that was necessary was a note of thanks, which +they wrote and sent off in a great hurry. They +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +didn’t want to keep Mr. Harriman waiting. No +one did. But he couldn’t find out anything about +the Girl Scouts because the only persons he asked +were the very persons who would never know anything +much about anything that had to do with +girls or good times or youth or happiness. He +asked his old friends at the club, when he felt like +talking at all, and so the time went on.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, at a Scout meeting Rosanna +found herself telling the girls all about Gwenny +and the play and the plans for sending the poor +little cripple to Cincinnati for the operation which +might make her well. It was only <i>might</i>. Doctor +MacLaren and the other doctors whom he had taken +to see Gwenny would only say that it could be <i>tried</i>. +And the great surgeon, Dr. Branshaw, had written +Dr. MacLaren that as soon as the child was in a fit +condition she could be brought to him and he would +do what he could. He said nothing about the cost, +Rosanna noticed, when she read his letter, so she +could not tell the girls what the operation would +cost. They were all as interested as they could +be and promised to work as hard as they could +selling tickets, and the ones who were chosen to +take parts in the play were very happy about it. +As a matter of fact, all of them were to come on +the stage, for those who had no speaking parts came +on and marched and so had a share in the glory.</p> + +<p>And the way they learned their parts! They almost +mastered them over night. Rehearsals went +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +on, and the day was set for the entertainment.</p> + +<p>There was a great deal of hammering up in Mrs. +Hargrave’s barn. Mrs. Hargrave and Miss Hooker +and Uncle Robert spent a good deal of time up +there, but they would not let anyone else in. Even +Elise was barred out, and although she wrung her +little hands and talked a funny mixture of French +and English in her pretty coaxing way, not one of +the three would relent and let her peek in. “Wait +until it comes time for the dress rehearsals,†was +all they would say.</p> + +<p>A week before the play, a big box came for Uncle +Robert. He opened it in Rosanna’s room. It was +full of tickets nicely printed on yellow pasteboard. +Rosanna read them with rapture: the name of the +play, <i>her</i> play, and at the top in large print,</p> + +<div> +<p style='margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;text-align:center'>BENEFIT PERFORMANCE</p> +</div> + +<p>“You have not said anything about what the +performance is to be a benefit <i>for</i>.†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,†said her uncle.</p> + +<p>“And you have forgotten to say the price of the +tickets,†wailed Helen, who was again spending +the night.</p> + +<p>“Well,†said Mr. Horton, “when I went to order +those tickets for you, I had an idea. And it was +this. I thought as long as this was a benefit performance, +why not let it benefit everybody present?â€</p> + +<p>“How can it do that?†asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“In this way,†said Uncle Robert. “There will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +be all sorts of people there, because some of the +Girl Scouts, Miss Hooker says, are very poor indeed, +and some of them belong to families who +have plenty of money. So Miss Hooker suggested +a very good scheme. Tell the girls when they sell +tickets to say that as it is a benefit and so forth +and so forth, that the tickets are simply to let the +people into the hall. As they go out they are to +pay whatever they think it is worth, from five cents +up.â€</p> + +<p>“Perfectly splendid!†said Helen, catching the +idea at once.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,†answered Rosanna. “They will +have seen the performance and suppose everybody +will feel as though it is worth only a nickel?â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, they won’t feel like that at all, Rosanna,†+said Helen. “I think every single person will +think it is worth a quarter. Think if they would +all pay twenty-five cents!â€</p> + +<p>“I know several who expect to pay a dollar,†+said Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>“If they only will,†cried Rosanna, almost sobbing, +“Gwenny can go to Cincinnati this very +winter! I think it is a good idea, Uncle Robert. +After all, it is a good thing that you did consult +with Miss Hooker, even if it <i>has</i> taken a lot of your +time. I think you have been so kind.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, I haven’t minded,†said Uncle Robert in a +generous way.</p> + +<p>“Why, you must have minded,†went on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +Rosanna. “I have kept track all I could, because I +was so much obliged to you, and you have been +over there at Miss Hooker’s house consulting—well, +you had to go over five nights last week, and +Miss Hooker is always saying, ‘I had a telephone +today from your uncle.’ You must be tired to +death. I nearly told Miss Hooker so, but I thought +it might sound rude.â€</p> + +<p>“You are right about that, Rosanna; it would +have been very rude indeed, excessively rude I may +say,†said Mr. Horton with some haste. “I can +scarcely think of anything worse for you to say. +My sainted Maria!â€</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say it,†Rosanna assured him, “and the +thing is so nearly over now, only a week more, that +it really doesn’t matter.â€</p> + +<p>“Not a particle!†said Mr. Horton. “But I +wish you would promise me that you won’t say anything +of the sort. Not that it matters, but I seem +to feel nervous.â€</p> + +<p>“Of course I will promise,†agreed Rosanna. +“I love Miss Hooker but of course I love you more, +and I just do hate to have you bothered.â€</p> + +<p>“It is mighty nice of you, sweetness, but you +must not worry about me at all. Now to change +the conversation, as the man said when he had +nearly been hanged by mistake, you give these +tickets out to your Girl Scouts and tell them to +offer them to the people who would be most likely +to give more than a nickel. It ought to be easy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +They are to say that the benefit will cost them five +cents or up as they leave the hall. With your +permission, I will make a few remarks and tell +them about Gwenny. But we will not mention +her by name, because if there should be a newspaper +reporter lurking around he would put it in the +papers and that would be very embarrassing.â€</p> + +<p>After Uncle Robert had gone out the girls made +the tickets up in little bundles, one for each girl +in the group. Their own they spread out on the +table, planning how they would dispose of them.</p> + +<p>“Whom shall you sell to first?†asked Helen.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Harriman,†said Rosanna quietly.</p> + +<p>Helen dropped her tickets. “Dear <i>me</i>, Rosanna!†+she cried. “I would be too afraid to offer +him a ticket.â€</p> + +<p>“<i>I</i> am not,†said Rosanna. “I would do more +than that for Gwenny, and I am not afraid of him +at all. Not even if he roars. And he has lots and +lots of money. I shouldn’t wonder at all that he +will be one of the dollar ones if he comes. And he +has <i>got</i> to come if I go after him.â€</p> + +<p>“Dear <i>me</i>!†said Helen again, quite awed. +“You are brave. Shall I come with you?â€</p> + +<p>“If you like,†replied Rosanna. “We will go +right after school tomorrow.â€</p> + +<p>The interview with Mr. Harriman took place as +planned the first thing after school. School let +out at two o’clock, and it was half-past when the +girls mounted the steps of the grim old fortress in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +which Mr. Harriman lived. Now it happened that +half past two was a very dark hour for Mr. Harriman +because at about that time he was always in +the clutch of a bad attack of indigestion brought +on daily because he would <i>not</i> mind his doctor and +omit pickles and sweets from his bill of fare. At +this time he read the morning paper and reviled +the world at large. His sister always left him +with the excuse that she wanted to lie down, and he +was alone with his abused stomach and his pepsin +tablets and his thoughts.</p> + +<p>The two girls entered the room and waited for +him to speak.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harriman looked up from his reading with +a dark scowl. Most of the newspaper was on the +floor where he had thrown it to stamp on. He +always felt better when he stamped on the editorials +that displeased him most. It seemed to soothe his +feelings. He managed to grunt, “’Dafternoon! +’Dafternoon!†when he saw the two girls advance +across his library, and then he waited, looking over +the tops of a very grubby pair of glasses for them +to state their errands. It was Rosanna who spoke +first, although generally Helen was the spokesman. +But Helen was frankly afraid of the grouchy old +gentleman, while Rosanna was too anxious to help +Gwenny to be afraid of anyone. So she said, +“Please excuse us, Mr. Harriman, if we have interrupted +your reading.â€</p> + +<p>“Well, you have!†said Mr. Harriman gruffly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> +“Whadder you want? Sell me chances on a doll’s +carriage or sofy pillow? Who’s getting up your +fair? Meth’dist, ’Piscopal? Here’s a dime.â€</p> + +<p>He held out the money, which Rosanna took +gently and laid on the table beside him.</p> + +<p>“Thank you,†she said. “We don’t want any +money today. We have come to tell you about an +entertainment we are going to give. First if you +don’t mind I think I will just shine up your glasses. +You can’t see to think through them the way they +are,†and as Helen looked on, expecting to see Rosanna +snapped in two any second, she held out her +hand for the glasses, shaking out a clean pocket +handkerchief as she did so. No one was more surprised +than Mr. Harriman himself when he took +off the smeary spectacles and handed them to Rosanna, +who silently polished them and handed them +back. They <i>were</i> better; Mr. Harriman acknowledged +it with a grunt.</p> + +<p>“Girls are real handy,†said Rosanna with her +sweet smile.</p> + +<p>“Grrrrrr!†from Mr. Harriman. “Whadded +you want to tell me?†but his voice certainly +seemed a shade less gruff.</p> + +<p>Rosanna, speaking distinctly and as carefully as +though she was explaining to a small child, told the +old man about Gwenny and the benefit and after +that, as he sat perfectly still looking at her through +unnaturally shiny glasses, she went on to tell him +about the Girl Scouts. You couldn’t tell whether +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +he cared a snap about it, but at all events he listened, +and Helen and Rosanna both thought it was +a good sign. They did not dare to glance at each +other, but Rosanna went on talking until she felt +that she had told him all that he would want to +know if he had been a regular sort of a human +being instead of a grouchy, cross old man who +seemed to delight in scaring everyone away from +him.</p> + +<p>“That’s all,†said Rosanna finally, smiling up +into the scowling old face.</p> + +<p>There was a long silence,</p> + +<p>“Grrrrrr!†said Mr. Harriman again. “So you +want me to come to your show, do you? Haven’t +been to a show for forty years! No good! Silly!â€</p> + +<p>“Ours isn’t,†declared Helen, suddenly finding +her voice. “Our entertainment is perfectly splendid!â€</p> + +<p>“Perfectly splendid!†mimicked Mr. Harriman. +“Sounds just like a woman! All alike, regardless +of age. Grrrrrr!â€</p> + +<p>“You will come, won’t you?†asked Rosanna. +“Please do! You see it is only a nickel if you do +not think it is worth more.â€</p> + +<p>“A great many persons are going to pay a quarter,†+hinted Helen.</p> + +<p>“All right, all right!†said Mr. Harriman. +“You are less objectionable than most children. +I will come if I can remember it.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> + +<p>“Suppose I come after you?†suggested Rosanna, +remembering what she had said to Helen about +getting Mr. Harriman if she had to come after him.</p> + +<p>“All right, all right! Let it go at that! I know +your sex! You will forget all about your agreement +by the time you reach the next corner. If +you come after me, I will go to your show. In +the Hargrave barn, eh? Anything to sit on, or +shall I bring a chair?â€</p> + +<p>“No, sir; Uncle Robert has fixed seats and everything. +And I will come for you quite early because +I have to be there doing my part.â€</p> + +<p>“That’s nuff!†grunted Mr. Harriman, nodding +curtly. “’Dafternoon!†He resumed his paper, +and as he caught the opening sentences of the article +before him, there came a sound like the grating +of teeth and the noise of a large boiler that +is about to explode.</p> + +<p>The girls said, “Good afternoon!†in two small +voices and went out as quickly as they could.</p> + +<p>Helen breathed a sigh of relief when she reached +the outer air.</p> + +<p>“Rosanna, you are certainly a very brave girl,†+she said. “I am glad to get out alive. Every +minute I expected to hear him say, ‘Fee-fi-fo-fum, +I smell the breath of an English-mun!’â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna laughed.</p> + +<p>“He is pretty awful,†she granted. “But I +mean to make him come. I think it will do him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +good to see that play, and I shall certainly go after +him. If he thinks I am going to forget about him, +he is greatly mistaken.â€</p> + +<p>“Let’s try to get rid of all our tickets this afternoon. +You know we are to meet Uncle Robert at +the barn at five o’clock to see the theatre he has +fixed up. Oh, Helen, I am <i>so</i> excited!â€</p> + +<p>For a couple of hours the girls repeated the story +of Gwenny and the benefit until they could say +it by heart. The tickets went so fast that they +were sorry that they did not have twice as many. +At a quarter of five they hurried back to Mrs. Hargrave’s, +where Elise was waiting for them and +Uncle Robert soon joined them. There was a short +wait then, because he refused to unlock the door +before Miss Hooker arrived although the girls +begged and begged, assuring him that she wouldn’t +mind.</p> + +<p>Finally they heard the tap, tap, tap of her tiny +shoes on the old brick walk, and round the corner +she came, looking more dimply and dainty and altogether +beautiful than ever. Uncle Robert looked +as though he could eat her, but somehow it was +not the sort of look he had given Rosanna that other +time. Not at all! Rosanna noticed it.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chVI'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER VI</p> +</div> + + +<p>The stairs were broad and easy, and the girls +ran up after Uncle Robert who proceeded to fit +a large key in the lock of the big door at the head +of the stairs. It was a very fine stable, built many, +many years ago, and finished outside and inside +with great care. The walls were all sealed or finished +with narrow strips of varnished wood. As +the door swung open, the three girls stood dumb +with amazement. Then “Oh, <i>darling</i> Uncle Robert!†+cried Rosanna, and threw herself into his +arms.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert looked over her head at Miss +Hooker and smiled.</p> + +<p>“Glad if you like it, kiddie,†he said. “It is +my contribution to little Gwenny. And Doctor +Rick told me to tell you that he would send some +music for his share.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, Helen, Helen, isn’t that <i>splendid</i>?†cried +Rosanna. “Now we won’t have to have a Victrola! +It will be like a real theatre.â€</p> + +<p>“Just exactly,†said Helen absently. She could +not give very much thought to the orchestra when +the little theatre claimed her attention.</p> + +<p>There was a real stage, and before it a long green +tin that the girls knew concealed the footlights. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +A splendid curtain hung before them, painted in a +splashy way with a landscape. To the girls it +seemed a rare work of art. Well, the sign painter +who had done it was rather proud of himself, so +it <i>must</i> have been all right.</p> + +<p>They walked down the aisle between rows of +nice new benches, made with comfortable backs. +Mr. Horton left them and went around back of the +stage. Immediately there was a sound of ropes +squeaking, and the curtain rose as majestically as +though it was the curtain of a real theatre. And +there was the stage! The same accommodating +sign painter had painted a back drop and “flies†+as they are called. It was a woodland scene. +Trees were the thing that accommodating sign +painter could do best, and he had made lots of them, +as green as green! He had also painted two canvas +covered boxes so that you could scarcely tell +them from real rocks.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t that pretty nifty looking scenery?†asked +Uncle Robert proudly. “It only goes to show that +there is a lot of kindness floating around loose in +this work-a-day old world. The man who painted +all this knew Gwenny’s mother when she was a girl, +and when I asked for his bill he said he had done +it all Sundays and nights and it was his contribution. +He wouldn’t take a cent. Doing it nights is +why some of the trees look sort of bluish but I +don’t think it hurts, do you?â€</p> + +<p>“What a nice, <i>nice</i> man!†exclaimed Miss +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +Hooker. “I should say it <i>doesn’t</i> hurt! To think +of his working nights after painting all day long. +I should admire those trees if they were a bright +<i>purple</i>!â€</p> + +<p>“Of course you would,†said Uncle Robert softly. +“You are like that.â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna was hurt. “Why, Uncle Robert! She +doesn’t mean that she would just as <i>soon</i> like a +purple tree as a green one. She means how nice +it was of the man.â€</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Rosanna; it is all perfectly clear to +me now,†smiled Uncle Robert. “Perfectly clear.†+He looked again at Miss Hooker and she smothered +a little smile behind her little handkerchief.</p> + +<p>They hated to go out of the theatre and see Uncle +Robert lock the door. Then they separated. Elise +danced off to the house. Miss Hooker and Helen +went down the street together, and Uncle Robert +and Rosanna cut across the garden. Rosanna’s +heart was full. She wanted <i>everybody</i> to be happy.</p> + +<p>“Uncle Robert,†she said, “sometimes I wish +that you were going to get married after awhile. +If you were only going to marry Miss Hooker or +some young lady just like her, so little and sweet!â€</p> + +<p>“Well, it is worth considering,†said Uncle Robert. +“I wonder now, just for the sake of argument, +that is, if I <i>should</i> do it to accommodate you, +I wonder if Miss Hooker <i>would</i> marry me.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, no,†said Rosanna. “She wouldn’t <i>think</i> +of it.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> + +<p>“Ugh!†said Uncle Robert. It sounded as +though someone had knocked all the air out of him.</p> + +<p>“No,†continued Rosanna. “We were talking +about Minnie getting married one day, and I said +it was the only wedding I was ever apt to have +anything to do with because I had heard you say +many times that you were not a marrying man.â€</p> + +<p>“What did she say?†asked Uncle Robert in a +sort of strangled voice which Rosanna, skipping +along at his side, failed to notice.</p> + +<p>“Oh, she said, ‘How interesting!’ and I said, +‘Isn’t it? Because he is nicer than anyone I know, +but he says that girls never cut any figure in his +young life except to play with.’â€</p> + +<p>“What did she say then?†demanded Mr. Horton.</p> + +<p>“Nothing at all,†answered Rosanna, “but she +is sensible too, because the next time I was there, +she asked more about Minnie, and then she said she +had decided never to marry. She said she liked to +be polite to men and help them pass the time, and +to assist them in worthy works, but further than +that she despised the whole lot of them, especially +blonds.†Rosanna looked up to see what color hair +Uncle Robert had, and noticed a very queer look +on his face.</p> + +<p>“You look so queer, Uncle Robert,†she said +tenderly. “Don’t you feel well?â€</p> + +<p>“No, I don’t,†said Uncle Robert. “I think if +you will excuse me I will take a walk.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> + +<p>“How <i>do</i> you feel?†persisted Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“I feel—I feel <i>queer</i>,†said Uncle Robert. “I +feel sort of as though I had been gassed.â€</p> + +<p>He turned abruptly and went down the walk, +leaving Rosanna staring after him. At dinner, +however, Uncle Robert declared that he was all +right, so Rosanna stopped worrying.</p> + +<p>Everything went rushing along. And everything +went beautifully, thanks to the energy everybody +put into their work. A couple of days before the +day of the entertainment Uncle Robert appeared +with a copy of the programs that he had had +printed. All the Girl Scouts, when Rosanna +brought it to the rehearsal, read it until the paper +was quite worn out. At the bottom of the page, +after the program part, was printed plainly, <i>Given +by the Girl Scouts of Group II</i>. Whoever saw the +program at all could not fail to see that they were +all in it, one as much as another.</p> + +<p>At last the great day came! It was Saturday, +of course. No other day would be possible for busy +school girls. Directly after supper, the Scouts +commenced to file into the theatre by ones and +twos and threes. They gathered in the dressing-rooms +back of the stage, where they sat or stood +in solemn groups. Helen and Elise had arrived, +and as Rosanna started across the garden she happened +to think of Mr. Harriman. She could not +suppress a groan of dismay as she remembered her +promise to go after him. There was no time to get +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +Helen or Elise to go. She looked wildly up and +down for some other Girl Scout, but there was not +one in sight. If she did not go, Mr. Harriman +would indeed think that all women were alike. So +she flitted down the street looking like a good fairy +in her shimmering blue dress, with the tiny wreath +of forget-me-nots banding her dark hair. She had +not taken time to put on her blue evening coat, with +its broad bands of white fox fur, but held it round +her shoulders with both hands as she ran.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harriman was at home, the footman said, but +he was engaged; had company for dinner, and they +had not quite finished. Would she wait?</p> + +<p>Rosanna said she was sorry but she would have +to go right in and speak to Mr. Harriman. So +she passed the pompous servant and at the dining-room +door a still more pompous butler, and stepped +into the presence of Mr. Harriman and his guests.</p> + +<p>Miss Harriman, a thin, scared little old lady, sat +at the head of the table. Opposite her, busy with +a large dish of plum pudding, sat Mr. Harriman. +His two guests sat on either side of him. They +were old too, so three white-haired old gentlemen +turned and looked at Rosanna as she entered and +dropped a curtsey.</p> + +<p>“’Devening! There you are again! Grrrrrr! +Didn’t forget, did you? Bah! Want I should go +to show?†said Mr. Harriman, partly to Rosanna +and partly to the others.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir; this is the night,†said Rosanna.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> + +<p>“What’s this?†asked one of the gentlemen, who +looked as though he could not have said <i>grrrrrr</i> +or <i>bah</i> to save his life.</p> + +<p>“That’s a Girl Scout,†said Mr. Harriman. +“Told you at the club that I would find out about +’em. Here’s a live one. Caught her myself.†He +acted quite pleased.</p> + +<p>“Shall I wait and walk over with you, Mr. Harriman,†+asked Rosanna, “or will you come as soon +as you can? You see I must be over there very +early.â€</p> + +<p>“I will come m’self,†said Mr. Harriman. +“Want piece puddin’? No? S’good! I will +come later. Won’t break my word. Didn’t break +yours. Bring these fellows along if they have any +money.â€</p> + +<p>“How much will we need?†said the third old +gentleman, laughing.</p> + +<p>“Anything from a nickel up,†replied Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Cost you a quarter,†said Mr. Harriman. +“Cosgrove, here, will have to pay thirty-five cents. +Based on income tax!â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna, watching him, thought she saw a real +twinkle in Mr. Harriman’s eye. She warned them +to be on time and promised to save three seats for +them in the front row. Then she went skipping +happily off. Three instead of one to come to the +play, two quarters, and thirty-five cents made +eighty-five cents right there! It was enough to +make <i>anyone</i> skip. When she reached the barn +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span> +people were filing up the broad stairs, and the room +was already half full. Uncle Robert stood near +the door nodding and smiling and telling the Girl +Scout ushers where to seat one and another. Rosanna +hurriedly wrote “Taken†on the backs of +three tickets, and laid them on three spaces on the +bench nearest the stage. As people kept coming, +she commenced to wonder if there would be seats +enough. She whispered her fear to Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right,†he said. “I have one of the +box stalls downstairs full of camp chairs, and the +sign painter is here to help me bring them up if +they are needed.â€</p> + +<p>“You think of everything,†said Rosanna fondly, +then set herself to watch the door for Mr. Harriman. +It was not long before she heard the clump, +clump, clump of his cane and the heavy footsteps +of his two friends. She escorted them proudly to +their seats, and left them nodding appreciatively +at the bright curtain and all the fittings of the little +theatre. Then she hurried around back of the +stage.</p> + +<p>“They came, eighty-five cents’ worth!†she whispered +to Helen.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?â€</p> + +<p>“Mr. Harriman is here and two of his friends,†+said Rosanna. “And Mr. Harriman and one +friend will give twenty-five cents, and the other +will give thirty-five.â€</p> + +<p>“Good!†said Helen. “How do I look? Is the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +place filling up? Have you seen the music Doctor +Rick sent? Five pieces! They have just come. +They are down in the feed room getting their instruments +out. Oh, I am <i>so</i> excited! And it is +all to make Gwenny well.â€</p> + +<p>“I am going out now,†said Rosanna. “I wish +you could all sit out in front. It does not seem +fair for me to do so.â€</p> + +<p>“It <i>is</i> fair,†Helen assured her. “Didn’t you +write the whole play? Of course you must see +that it is played right.â€</p> + +<p>When Rosanna appeared she glanced at Mr. +Harriman and was surprised to have him beckon +her to him.</p> + +<p>“Sit here,†he said, making a small but sufficient +space between himself and one of his friends—the +thirty-five cent one, Rosanna noticed. She sat +down, and as she did so the music started off with +a flourish. How splendidly it sounded! It quite +drowned the sound of people entering. Uncle Robert, +and the sign painter, and a couple of brothers +belonging to one of the girls were busy bringing +camp chairs and placing them in the wide aisle and +along the sides. Two bright red spots burned on +Rosanna’s cheeks.</p> + +<p>She looked at her wrist watch. In five minutes +it would begin. And it did.</p> + +<p>A row of Girl Scouts in crisp, natty looking +uniforms, marching according to size, so that the +large girls were in the center of the stage, came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +out before the curtain and sang one of their best +Girl Scout songs. Their voices were so sweet and +they sang so well that they had to return and give +an encore. Mr. Harriman pounded with his cane.</p> + +<p>Then the Webster girls, dressed as fairies, came +out and danced what the program called the Moonbeam +Dance, and behold, Uncle Robert had fixed +a spot light so they looked pink and white and +purple and blue by turns and it was like a real +theatre.</p> + +<p>There was so much applause after this that Rosanna +could not help wondering if it was a good +strong barn!</p> + +<p>Then there was a short pause while the orchestra +played.</p> + +<p>As it ended, Uncle Robert appeared before the +curtain. He looked so beautiful to Rosanna in his +evening dress with his merry eyes and pleasant +smile, that her eyes filled with tears of pride. And +he made a beautiful simple little speech. He told +the audience a great deal about the Girl Scouts +and all the good the organization was doing for +the girls and others as well, and then he told of +the little lame girl, suffering so hopelessly and so +patiently, and how these Girl Scouts had determined +to help her. He told them there was no +price set on the tickets, because some might feel +like giving ten cents or even a quarter or so but +that no one was <i>asked</i> to leave more than a nickel. +And then he called their attention to the beautiful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +curtain and told them that that and the scenery was +the gift of a friend who was a sign painter, who +had done it Sundays and nights after work as his +contribution to the benefit, and everybody clapped +furiously, and Mr. Harriman and the thirty-five +cent gentleman commenced to nudge each other +behind Rosanna. <i>She</i> was sitting on the very front +edge of the bench.</p> + +<p>Then Uncle Robert said:</p> + +<p>“After another short selection by the orchestra +there will be a play written by one of the Girl +Scouts. We hope that you will enjoy it.†He +bowed, and stepped behind the curtain, while everybody +clapped and Mr. Harriman thumped with his +cane.</p> + +<p>As the orchestra struck up, the thirty-five cent +gentleman leaned over to Mr. Harriman and said, +“What are you going to do about it, Dick?â€</p> + +<p>“Do ’swell’s you do,†said Mr. Harriman.</p> + +<p>“Just as much?†questioned the thirty-five cent +gentleman.</p> + +<p>“Yes,†said Mr. Harriman, snorting. “And +fifty over!â€</p> + +<p>“I will break even with you both,†said the third +gentleman, leaning across.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cosgrove took out a check book and a fountain +pen and commenced to write. Mr. Harriman +leaned behind Rosanna and watched.</p> + +<p>“Poh! Hum! Grrrrrr! Piker!†he said, and +Mr. Cosgrove, laughing, tore up his check and wrote +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +another which he handed to Mr. Harriman. Rosanna +did not think it would be polite to look, but +wondered what in the world they were doing when +they should have been listening to the music.</p> + +<p>“S’all right,†said Mr. Harriman. “Girl’s +pretty lame, isn’t she, Rosanna?â€</p> + +<p>“Gwenny can’t walk at all,†replied Rosanna, +“and even at night her back hurts so she can’t +sleep.â€</p> + +<p>“Poor little broken pot,†said the third gentleman +softly. “A pity that the hand of the Potter +slipped.â€</p> + +<p>“Save your poetry, Bristol!†grunted Mr. Harriman. +“This talks better.†He struck the check +book with his pen, and Mr. Bristol, borrowing a +page, wrote busily as the curtain rose.</p> + +<p>Rosanna, hoping they would forget business for +a while, bent her eyes on the stage.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chVII'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER VII</p> +</div> + + +<p>As the play progressed Rosanna commenced to +doubt her own senses. It did not seem possible +that she could have written anything so good and +so interesting.</p> + +<p>When the act ended, there was a louder burst +of applause than at any other time, and to Rosanna’s +horror some one in the back of the room +commenced to cry, “Author, author!†Rosanna +did not realize at first that they meant her and was +looking around the room with a great deal of interest +when she felt both Mr. Harriman and Mr. +Cosgrove pushing her to her feet. She stood up +because they shoved her up, and she did not know +what to do next.</p> + +<p>Then the most amazing thing of all happened.</p> + +<p>Mr. Harriman rose to his feet and taking Rosanna +firmly by the arm as though she might dash +off any instant, he started toward the three little +steps at one side of the stage. Up these steps he +sternly piloted Rosanna, while everyone in the room +clapped and clapped again. All of Louisville knew +Mr. Harriman, and when everybody saw that <i>he</i> +was escorting the little girl who had written the +play, they sat quite still to see what would happen +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +next. When they reached the stage and stood facing +the audience, someone called, “Speech, +speech!†but that was ’way, ’way beyond Rosanna, +who was perfectly overcome anyway. She looked +pleadingly at Mr. Harriman, who knew what she +meant, and took pity on her.</p> + +<p>“Hum, grrrrrr,†he commenced. “Ladies and +gentlemen, this little lady, who is the author and +producer of the play you have just seen, asks me +to speak for her. She thanks you for your appreciation, +and for the help you are giving to herself +and these other generous Girl Scouts in their efforts +to assist a girl less fortunate than themselves. +You have heard about the little cripple who is to +be benefited by the work of these girls, and I think +we, the audience fortunate enough to be present +at this memorable occasion, will esteem it a pleasure +to do what we can toward making it possible for +this little sufferer to obtain a possible cure through +a very serious and expensive operation. We thank +you. Grrrrrr!†He <i>glared</i> at Mr. Cosgrove and +Mr. Bristol, and bowed. Rosanna dipped a hasty +curtsey, and they went off the stage again as everybody +clapped and the music struck up the jolliest +piece they knew. The entertainment was over!</p> + +<p>Back with Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bristol, each +old gentleman shook hands with Rosanna and +started for the door, where Uncle Robert, intent +on the most important part of all, sat at the table +on which was a shoe box with a slot cut in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +cover. He was smiling and beaming and saying, +“Thank you!†over and over as people congratulated +him on Rosanna’s play. Miss Hooker stood +beside him looking so sweet and true and pretty +that when Mr. Harriman came up and looked at +her, and started to say “Grrrrrr,†it actually +sounded like a purr! He hastily shoved something +white through the slot, and Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. +Bristol followed him, looking very guilty.</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Harriman turned back.</p> + +<p>“Absolutely confidential, Horton! No newspapers!†+he said.</p> + +<p>“Absolutely, sir, and thank you,†said Uncle Robert, +bowing to the three. He commenced to suspect +something!</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker stooped to whisper something to +Robert. As soon as the last person had left the +hall, he obeyed the whisper, and taking the precious +box, which was sealed with red sealing wax where +the cover went on, he went behind the scenes. All +the girls were there, as well as the sign painter +and the two brothers. These three looked immensely +relieved when a fourth member of their +sex appeared. Mrs. Hargrave was there too, and +she was inviting everyone to walk over to her house +and have something to eat. She said she believed +it was customary after the first presentation of a +play.</p> + +<p>When some of the girls said they would have to +go home with their folks on account of getting home +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +with escort, Mrs. Hargrave at once added that she +had arranged with Mrs. Horton to send the girls +home in their automobiles.</p> + +<p>So very soon they were all in Mrs. Hargrave’s immense +dining-room, sitting in chairs ranged round +the room and being served chicken bouillon and +sandwiches, and fruit salad, and olives, and cocoa, +and ice-cream with whipped cream on top. All +they could eat of each thing too!</p> + +<p>“I can’t wait to see the inside of that box,†said +Mrs. Hargrave after all the Girl Scouts and the +sign painter and the two brothers had said good +night and thank you, and had gone. “What if +these children of ours <i>do</i> have to sleep half the +day tomorrow? Telephone your mother, Miss +Hooker, that you are here with me, and that you +will be home presently, and we will go into the +library and watch Robert count the money. And +whatever is lacking, when it comes to settling for +that operation, Mrs. Horton and I intend to make +up.â€</p> + +<p>Robert Horton laughed.</p> + +<p>“I have an idea that you are on the safe side +of the bargain, dear lady,†he said. “I think this +box will surprise us.â€</p> + +<p>“How much do you suppose is in it?†asked +Miss Hooker as she started for the telephone. “A +hundred dollars?â€</p> + +<p>“Five hundred at the least,†answered Uncle +Robert.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> + +<p>Everybody started to hurry for the library at +that as though the money in the box would have +to be counted as rapidly as possible for fear it might +fly away.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert happened to sit beside Miss Hooker +again, but Rosanna sat on the other side. He cut +the sealing wax and opened the box. There was +all sorts of silver money there <i>except nickels</i>! +There was not one nickel. Dimes, quarters, fifty-cent +pieces, and silver dollars, but not a nickel.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert placed the coins in neat piles, then +he commenced to stack the paper money. After he +had done this, he sorted out five checks, which he +laid by themselves quite respectfully, face down.</p> + +<p>Then he drew out a pencil and paper and commenced +to count. No one spoke. At the last, still +keeping the faces of the five checks out of sight, he +added them in, covered the paper with his hand, +and looked up. He seemed dazed.</p> + +<p>“How much do you think?†he demanded.</p> + +<p>“Don’t make us guess, Robert,†said his mother.</p> + +<p>“Two thousand, two hundred and thirty-four dollars +and twenty-five cents,†he said slowly.</p> + +<p>“Impossible!†exclaimed Mrs. Hargrave sharply.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker gave a gasp. The girls, perfectly +round-eyed, sat silent.</p> + +<p>“There it is!†said Mr. Horton. “Mr. Bristol +and Mr. Cosgrove each gave a check for five hundred +dollars, and Mr. Harriman wrote his for five +hundred and fifty.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> + +<p>Mrs. Horton sniffed.</p> + +<p>“Dick Harriman never gave twenty-five dollars +to anything like this in his life,†she said.</p> + +<p>“Well, here is his check,†declared her son.</p> + +<p>“So <i>that</i> is where the fifty came in,†said Rosanna, +finding her voice. She repeated the conversation +she had heard. Everybody laughed.</p> + +<p>“Poor Dick!†said Mrs. Hargrave. “He doesn’t +feel well, and his bark is so bad that I doubt if +anyone ever before stopped to see what his bite was +like until Rosanna tried. I reckon he is happier +tonight than he has been for a long while. He +would think it was a great joke, too, to cajole Henry +Bristol and Clinton Cosgrove into giving that +money. Well, they can afford it many times over, +so it will do them all good.â€</p> + +<p>“Too bad Rick MacLaren isn’t here,†said Uncle +Robert. “He has a sick patient on hand, and +couldn’t come. I will tell him the first thing in +the morning.â€</p> + +<p>“And these girls <i>must</i> go to bed,†said Mrs. Horton. +“Are you going to stay with Rosanna, +Helen?â€</p> + +<p>“I think I will just have to go home and tell +mother and father about it if there is any way for +me to get there,†replied Helen.</p> + +<p>“If Miss Hooker feels like the extra walk, we +will take you on our way to her house,†said Uncle +Robert eagerly.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> + +<p>“I would love it,†said Miss Hooker obligingly.</p> + +<p>Rosanna marvelled.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker lived blocks away from Helen, in +the opposite direction, but as the older people said +nothing, Rosanna kept silence. At all events the +benefit was over, and her Uncle Robert would no +longer feel obliged to spend all his time with a mere +girl, because no matter how lovely, Rosanna knew +that he didn’t care for girls.</p> + +<p>A number of girls ranging in age from twelve +to sixteen were busy repeating in a number of +homes that night just how they had felt at different +times during the evening, and explaining to less +fortunate brothers and sisters how good everything +had tasted afterwards. And Sunday morning, a +great many mothers had a difficult time getting +their Girl Scout daughters awake.</p> + +<p>Rosanna had a long talk with Uncle Bob. She +wanted to know what was going to be done about +the money.</p> + +<p>“I have been thinking about that,†said Uncle +Robert. “I will put it in the bank the first thing +tomorrow morning. I shall put it in the office bank +for safe keeping until then.â€</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose it will take all of it for +Gwenny’s operation?†asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“No, I do not,†Robert replied, “but of course +Doctor Branshaw is a very high priced specialist, +and he sets his own fees.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> + +<p>“If he knew that Gwenny was a poor little girl +and that the Girl Scouts were taking care of her, +I wonder if it would make any difference?â€</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert shook his head. “I don’t believe +I would ask a favor of anyone, now that you have +earned such a lot of money. Just go ahead and +pay her way like good sports. At that, with the +hospital charges and nurses paid, I think you may +have a little left over. If we have, we will have +to find the best way to spend it for Gwenny. I +want to consult with Miss Hooker about it later +if she is not too tired.â€</p> + +<p>“Consult again! Oh, <i>poor</i> Uncle Robert!†said +Rosanna compassionately. “I thought that was +all over with.â€</p> + +<p>“It is not as painful as you seem to think,†said +Uncle Robert dryly. “At all events, my health is +not breaking under the strain. I never knew you +to fuss so, Rosanna. Just what have you up your +sleeve anyhow? Don’t you like your Captain after +all?â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, I perfectly <i>love</i> her,†cried Rosanna +warmly. “You don’t know how sweet she is, Uncle +Robert! And she is such a good Captain. Every +girl in the patrol loves her and will do anything +in the world for her.â€</p> + +<p>Seeing that Uncle Robert appeared to be listening, +Rosanna went on warming to her subject.</p> + +<p>“At the Rally, I heard one of the ladies say that +our Captain was considered the best one in all the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +city. And she looks so young; just like one of the +girls when she gets into her Scout uniform. When +we are on hikes, she runs around and plays with +us and joins all our games. Oh, yes, Uncle Robert, +I do love her dearly!â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t know but what I do myself,†admitted +Uncle Robert unexpectedly.</p> + +<p>“Why, Uncle <i>Robert</i>!†said Rosanna in a +shocked tone. “What a thing for you to say!â€</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert wondered if he had made a mistake. +It was not the sort of a remark he would want +repeated. So he made another mistake.</p> + +<p>“Wasn’t it? A joke, Rosanna; just a merry +jest. Thought you would laugh over it. Ha ha! +Ha ha!â€</p> + +<p>“Ha ha!†repeated Rosanna to be agreeable. +Sometimes Uncle Robert was rather disappointing. +“But she is lovely anyway, and has loads and +loads of friends, and, Uncle Robert, I think she +has a sweetheart because boxes and boxes of flowers +come to her, and she just keeps a little one to wear, +and sends all the rest to the hospital. And lovely +books come by mail and the fattest letters! One +had poetry in it, too. I could tell by the shape of +the writing down the page.â€</p> + +<p>“Don’t snoop, Rosanna,†said Uncle Robert +sharply.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t, Uncle Robert,†said Rosanna in a hurt +tone. “She was sitting close to me on the sofa, +and I couldn’t help seeing. She liked it too, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +because she smiled so sweetly and showed all her +dimples, even the one that almost <i>never</i> comes out.â€</p> + +<p>“What a little ray of sunshine you are, Rosanna!†+said her uncle strangely.</p> + +<p>“Thank you; a Girl Scout <i>ought</i> to be,†replied +Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Well, you are, all right, sweetness,†said Uncle +Robert. He sighed deeply almost as though the +ray of sunshine had not come his way at all. He +kissed Rosanna and then sat her down rather hard +in a deep chair. “I don’t know when I have felt +so cheered up. And now, if you would like to call +the garage and order the little car for me, I will +go around to see Doctor MacLaren and tell him +the good news of our fortune. And on second +thoughts, I don’t believe I will have to consult with +Miss Hooker at all. I think perhaps you are right. +I have bothered her enough.â€</p> + +<p>“She has been <i>very</i> polite and kind about it all, +hasn’t she?†asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Most polite and kind,†Mr. Horton agreed. +“But we don’t want to wear her kindness out, do +we, Rosanna? I will go see Rick, and in a day +or two my part of this affair will be finished. And +I won’t have to bother anybody. I am thinking +of a little trip out West, Rosanna. I wish you +could go with me.â€</p> + +<p>“I wish I could!†said Rosanna, “but grandmother +wouldn’t want me to leave school, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +besides I couldn’t leave the Scouts just now. Where +do you think of going, Uncle Robert?â€</p> + +<p>“Nowhere in particular, unless—†he thought +a moment. “It might be fun to look up some place +where they had never heard of the Girl Scouts.â€</p> + +<p>“Perfectly splendid!†said Rosanna. “<i>That</i> +would be doing a good deed. You could tell the +people about us, and start a patrol. I must tell +Miss Hooker about this; she will think it is so nice +of you. She appreciates kind acts, even if she +doesn’t like men.â€</p> + +<p>“It is not worth mentioning, Rosanna,†answered +Uncle Robert. “Besides, I didn’t have just that +in mind. However, I hear the car and will leave +you before—before I do anything I regret.â€</p> + +<p>He went off, and Rosanna watched him through +the window as he started his car. He was real +jerky with it, and it sputtered and missed, and went +off with a leap.</p> + +<p>“He is all tired out,†thought Rosanna.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chVIII'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER VIII</p> +</div> + + +<p>Time passed, a great many things happening. +Gwenny, accompanied by her mother (there being +plenty of money for everything), was taken away +to the place of her great trial. When the question +arose as to what should be done with Mary and +Tommy and Myron and Luella and Baby Christopher, +Rosanna thought of Minnie, always so good +and kind. She went to see her, and the result was +that Minnie volunteered to stay at Gwenny’s and +run the little house and take care of the children +as long as Mrs. Harter was needed in Cincinnati. +Both Doctor MacLaren and Mr. Horton went with +Mrs. Harter and Gwenny, and made the journey +as comfortable as they possibly could. The great +Doctor Branshaw, after seeing his patient, said that +she must have at least a week of rest under his +own eye before he would be willing to try the operation. +So Gwenny was settled in a sunny room +at the hospital where she at once became the pet +of the ward and Doctor MacLaren and Mr. Horton +came home.</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon, the very next Sunday, +Mr. Horton came into the house looking the picture +of gloom. He scarcely spoke to his mother and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +Rosanna but rushed up to his room and immediately +there was a sound of things being dragged +around, and many footsteps. And the door opened +and shut a great many times. Mrs. Horton wondered +what that boy was up to now and went on +reading. But Rosanna listened with a black suspicion +growing in her mind.</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, Mr. Horton came down presently +to announce that he was going away for a +few weeks. He was getting stale, he said, and +needed a little change. When he saw Rosanna’s +round eyes fixed on him, he looked away but repeated +that he felt stale.</p> + +<p>“It is that War,†said his mother, as though +the war should be severely reprimanded. “Before +you went into that war, you were always contented. +Now nothing contents you for long.â€</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you are right,†admitted Robert absently. +“At all events I can be spared from the +office just now better than at any other time, and +I am going to go away.â€</p> + +<p>And go he did an hour later. Mrs. Hargrave +and Elise came in presently to take Sunday night +luncheon.</p> + +<p>“Where is Robert?†asked Mrs. Hargrave, seeing +that no place was set for him.</p> + +<p>“Gone off for a vacation,†said his mother.</p> + +<p>“Dear me, isn’t he well?†asked Mrs. Hargrave.</p> + +<p>“Perfectly, but he just took one of his notions +and went.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> + +<p>“Anything—er—happened, do you suppose?†+questioned Mrs. Hargrave. “Anything—er, <i>you</i> +know. Misunderstanding?â€</p> + +<p>“Possibly,†answered Mrs. Horton. “That is +what I suspect. But I don’t <i>know</i> anything.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh dear, oh dear!†cried Mrs. Hargrave, folding +her fine old hands together. “It is too bad! +Can’t something be done? Why, Robert is the +finest boy in this world! He is just what I dream +my son would have been if I had had one. Do +you suppose one could say anything to the other +person?â€</p> + +<p>“No, indeed,†said Mrs. Horton. “I don’t <i>know</i>, +you see. I only suspect.â€</p> + +<p>So Uncle Robert went away, and Gwenny was +off at the hospital, and Rosanna and Helen spent +all their time drilling Elise in the requirements +of the Tenderfoot examination. Elise was quick +to learn, but she found more difficulty in learning +this because her knowledge of English was of course +limited. The girls were anxious to make a brilliant +showing with their recruit.</p> + +<p>Over and over they drilled her in the Tenderfoot +examination, at the last requiring her to write the +answers to the examination paper which read as +follows:</p> + +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> + + +<table style='margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto' summary='exam'> +<tr><td colspan="3" align="center">TENDERFOOT EXAMINATION,</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" align="center">WRITTEN</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">1</td><td>a</td><td>Give the Scout promise.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>What does the Scout motto mean?</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">2</td><td> </td><td>Give the Scout laws in order.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">3</td><td>a</td><td>What is the purpose of the Scout movement?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>What does a Scout’s honor mean?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>c</td><td>Give the meaning of one law.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>d</td><td>How and when should the Scout salute be given?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>e</td><td>Explain the Scout badge.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">4</td><td>a</td><td>Who made the American flag?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>Why was a flag needed?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>c</td><td>In what city was it made? What year?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>d</td><td>Name the committee appointed to design it.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">5</td><td>a</td><td>Quote General Washington’s words about the flag.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>When was the flag officially adopted?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>c</td><td>Describe the first official flag of the stars and stripes.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">6</td><td>a</td><td>What do the stars represent? The stripes?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>For what do the colors, red, white and blue stand?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>c</td><td>How many stars has the flag now? What day is Flag day?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>d</td><td>When is a new star added and why?</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">7</td><td> </td><td>Give fully the respect due the flag.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">8</td><td>a</td><td>What should Scouts do when the National Anthem is played?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>What should Civilians do at Retreat? Scouts?</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">9</td><td>a</td><td>What is the United States Government?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>Who is at its head?</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>c</td><td>Name the Commissioners of the District of Columbia.</td></tr> +<tr><td colspan="3" style='font-size:2px'> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">10</td><td>a</td><td>Write America.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"> </td><td>b</td><td>Write The Star Spangled Banner (omitting 3rd stanza).</td></tr> +</table> + +<p>Then followed the demonstration of knots and +knot tying. Over and over they drilled her, and +Elise was an apt pupil. Her delicate little fingers +seemed to know of themselves what to do.</p> + +<p>“I am glad she is to <i>write</i> that examination,†+sighed Helen the day before Elise was to go to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +Captain Hooker and take her examination formally. +She was to be examined on Friday afternoon, +and at the meeting Saturday night she was to +become a Tenderfoot Scout member of their +patrol.</p> + +<p>“What difference does it make whether she +writes the exam, or recites her answers?†returned +Rosanna. “She speaks brokenly, of course, but +that does not matter.â€</p> + +<p>“All it matters is that no one could hear her +speak of General Washington the way she does in +her funny broken English, without wanting to +scream. It is so funny.â€</p> + +<p>Funny or not, Elise went through her examination +most successfully and Saturday night accompanied +Helen and Rosanna to the meeting at Miss +Hooker’s house. Their little Captain had fitted up +a room specially for her girls, where they could +keep their various documents and where the seats, +the neat desk for the secretary, and the standard +for the big silk flag did not need to be disturbed +in the intervals between meetings.</p> + +<p>Elise was thrilled beyond words.</p> + +<p>As they entered the room she saw that the two +girls saluted their little Captain. Not knowing if +she was expected to salute before becoming a Scout, +Elise dropped a shy curtsey and followed Rosanna +to a seat where they awaited the full number of +Scouts and the shrill whistle from the Lieutenant +which brought the meeting to order.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> + +<p>“The first whistle means <i>Attention</i>,†whispered +Helen.</p> + +<p>Once again it sounded.</p> + +<p>“That is for Assembly,†whispered Rosanna on +the other side, as all the girls rose.</p> + +<p>Leaving Elise in her seat, the Scouts formed in +double ranks at a distance of forty inches between +ranks and an interval of sixty inches between +patrols.</p> + +<p>The eight girls who formed a patrol took their +places in groups as signified by the crosses.</p> + +<table summary='patrol' style='margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;'> +<tr><td align='center'>Patrol</td><td align='center'>Patrol</td><td align='center'>Patrol</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>××××</td><td align='center'>××××</td><td align='center'>××××</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>××××</td><td align='center'>××××</td><td align='center'>××××</td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'>Captain</td><td align='center'>×  ×</td><td align='center'>Lieutenant</td></tr> +</table> + + +<p>Elise found out afterward that number one in +the front rank of each patrol is the Patrol leader, +and number four the Corporal.</p> + +<p>At the command “Company, attention!†from +the little Captain, now standing so straight and so +stern that Elise scarcely recognized her, the Company +as a whole stiffened to attention.</p> + +<p>The Lieutenant, a tall, pretty girl of nineteen, +then commanded, “Corporals from Patrols!†and +the three Corporals stepped forward two paces, +made two right turns, and stood facing the center of +the patrol. The Corporals then snapped out together, +“Attention! Right Dress!†after which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span> +they faced left, took two paces, made right turn, +right face, and looked critically down the line to see +that it was perfectly straight. After two short left +steps to straighten the rear line, they faced right, +took four paces forward, and with two right turns +got back in position facing patrol and called the +command “Front! Count off!â€</p> + +<p>The Corporals then one after the other called +the roll of her Patrol, and finishing that, turned +and reported to the Lieutenant that the Patrol +was formed, after which they returned to their +places in the ranks, and the Lieutenant, saluting +the Captain, reported, “Captain, the Company is +formed.â€</p> + +<p>Inspection then followed. Each girl, saluting, +stepped forward and her hair, teeth, hands, nails, +shoes and general appearance was scrutinized.</p> + +<p>Elise watched all this with great interest, interest +which deepened as the Captain commanded “Color +guard, march!†and three girls stepped from the +ranks and stood side by side for a moment, then at +a word of command marched to the flag. There +they saluted and marched back; when the Captain +and the Lieutenant faced about, and the Captain +in her silvery voice said:</p> + +<p>“The Flag of your Country; pledge allegiance!â€</p> + +<p>With one voice the girls united in the beautiful +pledge to the flag, “I pledge allegiance to the flag, +and to the republic for which it stands; one nation +indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> + +<p>Elise looked at the silken folds of the glorious +red, white and blue with tears in her eyes. How +glad she was to make that pledge! Had not that +flag, the flag that was now her own, floated over +the shell-racked fields of France? Oh, she <i>loved</i> +it!</p> + +<p>The color guard returned, and the fresh young +voices rose in the first verse of America.</p> + +<p>“Scouts, your promise!†said the Captain.</p> + +<div> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>“To do my duty to God and to my country.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>To help other people at all times.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>To obey the laws of the Scouts.â€</p> +</div> + +<p>the voices rang out.</p> + +<p>“The laws!†said the Captain.</p> + +<p>Again the chorus of girls repeated:</p> + +<div> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout’s honor is to be trusted.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout is loyal.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout’s duty is to be useful, and help others.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Girl Scout.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout is courteous.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout keeps herself pure.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout is a friend to animals.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout obeys orders.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout is cheerful.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>A Girl Scout is thrifty.</p> +</div> + +<p>“Dismissed!†said the little Captain and, breaking +ranks, the girls went to their seats where they +sat talking in low tones until the sharp sound of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +the Lieutenant’s whistle called them to attention +again.</p> + +<p>“Now I do come,†said Elise to herself, and her +heart commenced to hammer in quite an alarming +fashion. But it was not quite time for her to rise. +Looking at Rosanna, she saw her give a slight shake +of the head, and Elise leaned back in her seat while +all the business of the meeting was settled and +plans made for some aid for a poor family living +near.</p> + +<p>One thing Elise noticed particularly. The girls +present were widely different in looks, and Elise +with her delicate perceptions saw plainly that they +belonged in widely differing classes, so called. A +few of the girls, Rosanna among them, had the +carefully cared for and delicately nurtured look +of the very rich. More were like Helen, clean, +carefully groomed and almost precise in her dress +and accessories. Others were very evidently poor, +with rough little hands that already told the story +of hard work and few toilet creams. But whoever +they were, they saw no difference in each other. +They were Girl Scouts in the fullest and best sense +of the word: sisters pledged to each other, and living +up to that pledge in all earnestness and honor.</p> + +<p>Elise, waiting for her summons to go forward, +and understanding nothing of the business that was +going on, threw her thoughts backward. She saw +herself the idolized child of the gay, rich young +couple in the great château, where long painted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +lines of powdered and frilled and armor-clad ancestors +looked down at her from the long galleries, +and where dozens of willing servants danced to +do her bidding. Then the picture changed, and +with the roll of drums and the thunder of cannon +she saw the hated foe march across her land, destroying +as they came. Father, mother, grandmother, +home, riches; all went down as under a +devouring tide. Then the promises of her Monsieur +Bob, and after long, long weary days spent with +the ladies of the Red Cross came the journey into +the Unknown, that trip across an ocean that was +to forever separate her from a past that was too +terrible for a little girl to have known.</p> + +<p>To have found refuge in Mrs. Hargrave’s tender +arms, to have won such love and such friends—to +be able to be a Girl Scout—</p> + +<p>Elise turned her eyes, brimming with sudden +tears, to the flag.</p> + +<p>“Never, <i>never</i> will I zem disappoint!†she whispered +tenderly, using as best she could the unfamiliar +words of her adopted tongue.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chIX'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER IX</p> +</div> + + +<p>At last Elise saw the Captain glance in her +direction as the whistle blew once more for attention +and the Captain commanded, “Fall in!†A +look of serious interest appeared on the faces of +the girls as they formed in a horseshoe, the Captain +and the Lieutenant standing in the gap and the +American flag spread out before them.</p> + +<p>Elise, with Helen beside her, walked to a place +just inside the circle and stood facing the Captain. +In the Lieutenant’s hands were the staff and hat, +the shoulder knot, badge and neckerchief of the +Tenderfoot Elise.</p> + +<p>She could not refrain from a glance at them. +How she had longed to wear all those things; the +insignia of everything she had learned to admire +and look up to in the girls of America!</p> + +<p>“Salute!†said the Captain.</p> + +<p>All saluted Elise, who stood waiting for some +order, she did not know what.</p> + +<p>“Forward!†said the Captain to Helen, and the +two girls stepped to the center.</p> + +<p>Regarding Elise with a long, careful glance, and +speaking carefully, so the little French girl should +miss nothing of the full meaning of her words, the +Captain asked:</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> + +<p>“Do you know what your <i>honor</i> means?â€</p> + +<p>“Yess,†said Elise, finding her voice after what +seemed to her an endless time. “Yess, it does mean +that always I shall be trusted to be faithful and +true and honorable.â€</p> + +<p>“Can I trust you,†asked the Captain, “on your +honor, to be loyal to God and your country, to help +other people at all times, and to obey the Scout +Law?â€</p> + +<p>Elise, coached by Helen and Rosanna, made the +half salute in unison with the whole company, as +she answered, “I do promise on my honor to be +loyal to God and my country, to help other people +at all times and to obey the Scout Law.â€</p> + +<p>“I trust you on your honor to keep this promise,†+answered the Captain.</p> + +<p>The circle of girls listened with respectful and +solemn interest. Well they realized that the vow +being given was not an empty or idle one. They +knew that it entailed hard work, self-denial, and +many hardships. Yet they gloried in it, and +silently renewed their own vows as they heard the +Tenderfoot make her promises.</p> + +<p>“Invest!†came the Captain’s next order.</p> + +<p>Stepping forward, the Lieutenant gave Elise her +staff, and put the hat, handkerchief and knot on +her, and smiled as Elise said, “I thank you!†in +her pretty way.</p> + +<p>Then, at a whispered word, she marched up the +line to the Captain who pinned on her trefoil badge +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +and explained that it was an emblem of her Scout +“life.†If for any misbehavior, the trefoil or +“life†must be taken away from her, she would +become a dead Scout for the time the Captain ordered +and for that time in disgrace.</p> + +<p>The new Scout was then initiated into all the +secret passwords, a proceeding which filled Elise +with despair; she felt that she would never be able +to remember the queer words and phrases.</p> + +<p>Then with the ceremony of marching back to +their proper patrols the ceremony was over, and in +a moment the formal meeting was dismissed.</p> + +<p>The girls crowded around, all anxious to meet +the new Tenderfoot and welcome her. They talked +to her so hard that Elise felt her head whirl. She +was glad to hear the voice of the little Captain +suggesting a song. She handed a leaflet to Elise, +but the girls knew the songs, and gathering in a +circle they wanted to know which one to sing.</p> + +<p>“Sing <i>The Long, Long Line</i>,†suggested the Captain, +and the girls sang:</p> + +<div> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>THE LONG, LONG LINE</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>(Tune: The Long, Long Trail)</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Recruiting song.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Do you feel a little lonely?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Are your friends too few?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Would you like to join some jolly girls</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>In the things you think and do?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Don’t you know your Country’s waiting?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Have you heard her call?</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>See, the Scouts are crowding, crowding in,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Where there’s room for one and all!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Chorus</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>There’s a long, long line a-growing,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>From north to south, east to west,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>There’s a place awaiting in it, too, that you’ll fill best.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>We are sure you’d like to join us</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>If you knew what we can do</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>And we’d like, O how we’d like to make a good Girl Scout of you.</p> +</div> + +<p>It certainly sounded sweet as the fresh young +voices blended, and Elise thrilled as she listened. +She was having such a good time! All the girls +seemed so friendly and so sweet, with the exception +of one girl who hung back and on whose face +there rested the shadow of discontent and dissatisfaction. +Elise found herself wondering about +her; she seemed so out of place in that happy, merry +throng. But none of the other girls appeared to +notice that one of their number sat apart and occupied +herself rather ostentatiously over a book.</p> + +<p>They were all so busy making the evening pass +pleasantly for the charming new Tenderfoot who +responded so prettily to their advances that no one +spoke or looked at the silent Scout, but presently +Elise noticed that the little Captain sat down beside +her and compelled her attention. Even then the +girl looked as though she preferred to be let alone.</p> + +<p>For a long while, the girls sat and told Elise +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +about their work and play and the camping in summer +and the delightful hikes all the year. Finally +it came time to go home and some one called for +another song.</p> + +<p>“Which shall it be, Elise?†asked Helen. “You +choose one of the songs.â€</p> + +<p>“I see one follows the air of the <i>Old Colored +Joe</i>,†said Elise. “I do know that loving song. +Please to sing that; and if I may, I will try to sing +it also.â€</p> + +<p>“Of course we will sing that, you dear,†laughed +the tall young Lieutenant, and together they sang:</p> + +<div> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>WE’RE COMING</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>(Tune: Old Black Joe)</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Camping Song.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>I</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Come where the lake lies gleaming in the sun;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Come where the days are filled with work and fun.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Come where the moon hangs out her evening lamp;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>The Scouts are trooping, trooping, trooping back to camp.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><span class='sc'>Chorus</span></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>We’re coming! We’re coming! To the lakes, the hills, the sea!</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Old Mother Nature calls her children—you and me.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>II</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Come where we learn the wisdom of the wood;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Come where we prove that simple things are good,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Come where we pledge allegiance to our land;</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>America, you’ve called your daughters—here we stand.</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'><span class='sc'>Chorus</span></p> +<p style='margin:0 auto'> </p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>We’re coming! We’re coming! ’Til we spread from sea to sea,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>Our country needs us—wants us—calls us—you and me!</p> +</div> + +<p>“That is so <i>most</i> lovely,†said Elise as the song +was finished, never for a moment realizing that her +own pure and bell-like voice had added richness and +beauty to the song.</p> + +<p>The other girls looked at each other and smiled. +Here was indeed a find. Never had there come a +Scout to the council with such a wonderful voice. +They felt that the pretty young Tenderfoot was a +great acquisition to their number. So they all +crowded around and said good night,—all but the +silent Scout who had not joined in the jollity. +Elise and Rosanna and Helen filled the two automobiles +that were waiting for them with the girls. +Never, never had those big cars been so crowded. +Certainly they had never held happier passengers. +But there was no noise or boisterousness, no singing +or whistling. The girls chatted in tones that +were agreeably low and as each one reached her +destination, she thanked Rosanna or Elise. When +the last passenger in the Hargrave car had been +set down, Elise leaned back in a corner and thought +deeply. She was happy beyond words.</p> + +<p>To do good to someone every day; that was part +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +of her pledge. Such an easy part! But it was +hard <i>not</i> to be good when everyone was so good +to her. Then suddenly she thought of the sulky +face of the girl at the meeting.</p> + +<p>All the time she was telling Mrs. Hargrave about +the installation and the songs, and trying them +over for her, she saw the dark, discontented face +before her. She could not feel perfectly happy +because somehow the face seemed to send her a +message. “Help me; help me!†Elise heard in +her soul. But what could she, a stranger, a girl +who could scarcely speak the new language, what +<i>could</i> she do for that girl? And besides, why did +she <i>need</i> help? Elise, whose bright eyes saw everything, +had noted the beautiful silk stockings, the +texture of the black hair ribbon, and at the last, +the expensive fur that edged her coat. Also a car +had come for her, in which she went off alone. It +was not poverty, at all events, decided Elise. She +could walk; she was not lame like the poor little +blond in the corner. As Elise thought it over, she +puzzled more and more. She decided to ask Rosanna +or Helen next day; then a better decision +came to her. She would find out for herself. No +one should tell her. Then if she made any mistake, +why, the mistake would be hers.</p> + +<p>But the next day but one the plot thickened. +She went over with Rosanna to see Miss Hooker +about some Scout work, and as they stood on the +steps waiting for the door to open, it did open with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +a jerk, and the girl Elise had been worrying about +dashed down the steps and into her limousine. +Her face was disfigured with tears.</p> + +<p>“Dear me!†said Rosanna. “What do you suppose +has happened to Lucy Breen? She has been +crying.â€</p> + +<p>“Assuredly. The <i>petite pauvre</i> one!†answered +Elise sadly.</p> + +<p>Rosanna with her usual directness asked Miss +Hooker the moment they entered what was the matter +with Lucy.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker hesitated. “You really ought not +ask a question like that, Rosanna,†she said finally, +“but perhaps I ought to tell you. You will all +have to know.â€</p> + +<p>“Please <i>don’t</i> tell me, Miss Hooker,†Rosanna +begged with a deep flush. “I thought perhaps +someone had died or something like that.â€</p> + +<p>“No, but for a week Lucy must be a dead Scout +herself.â€</p> + +<p>“How <i>awful</i>!†cried both girls, and then were +silent.</p> + +<p>“I prefer not to tell you why just now, but of +course this will not make you shun her. You must +show all the kindness and consideration that you +can for her, and be with her all you can.†More +than that Miss Hooker did not seem to want to +say, and the girls, saddened and quiet, finished their +errand and left.</p> + +<p>A day or two later, going with Mrs. Hargrave +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +to the Red Cross rooms down town, Elise thought +she saw Lucy Breen shrink out of sight behind some +portières at the back of the store that the Red Cross +used as a sales room.</p> + +<p>Elise acted on a generous impulse. She went +back through the store looking at one thing and +another until she in turn came to the portières. +Behind them was a space used for a sort of store-room +for articles brought into the shop, and as +Elise looked curiously through the curtains as +though wondering what lay beyond, she saw Lucy +standing in a corner, crowded against the wall. +Elise nodded gaily.</p> + +<p>“Are you what they call making the sort of +things in here, Lucy?†she cried. “Is it not fun +to see what the good kind people give away?â€</p> + +<p>She stepped into the store-room as she spoke, +smiling and nodding. “Yes, it is droll, some of the +things,†she chattered on, as though Lucy was doing +her share in the conversation. Finally, however, +like a little clock, Elise ran down. She could +not think of a single thing to say further, and +she trailed off, looking shyly into Lucy’s dark +face.</p> + +<p>Lucy was smiling a set and bitter smile.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you think you had better get out of this +and leave me?†she asked. “Perhaps you don’t +know that I have lost my badge. I shall be a dead +Scout for a week, and I don’t care in the least +whether I ever wear it again or not.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> + +<p>Elise came close and laid a hand on Lucy’s shoulder, +but the girl shook it off.</p> + +<p>“<i>Don’t!</i>†she said pettishly.</p> + +<p>“I knew that you had resigned your badge for +the so small time of a week,†said Elise gently, +“but one week soon passes.â€</p> + +<p>“Do you know <i>why</i> I lost it?†asked Lucy +harshly.</p> + +<p>“No,†said Elise, “and I do not so much care. +That is for you to know, and our dear Captain. I +am just so so sorry that you are unhappy. But +you will be happy again. Always unhappiness goes +away. We do not forget, but it ceases to wound. +And if the fault makes you so unhappy, why, certainly +you will never, never so do again; will you, +dear Lucy?â€</p> + +<p>To her surprise and dismay, Lucy turned and, +hiding her face in her arms, leaned against the +cracked old wall and sobbed.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I <i>am</i> unhappy!†she cried. “I am unhappy, +and I don’t know what to do! Sometimes +I think I will run away!â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t do that; don’t do that!†cried Elise. +“Think of your dear mama and your father. Oh, +you could never have a fault that would make you +need to do anything that would make them so unhappy!â€</p> + +<p>Lucy laughed her bitter little laugh.</p> + +<p>“I think I will tell you what has happened,†+she said, “and then you can see just how I feel.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> + +<p>“Can you not tell to someone more wise than +I?†asked Elise, her dismay growing. “I will be +so glad to listen, but for advice, I am so ignorant, +so what you call it? I speak your English so +poorly, that maybe I say to you the wrong thing.â€</p> + +<p>“You needn’t say anything,†said Lucy. “You +were so good to come and speak to me, and I want +to talk to someone. I had advice from Miss Hooker +but I shall not take it.â€</p> + +<p>“Was it not good advice?†asked Elise, who +thought every word that Miss Hooker uttered was +a pearl of wisdom.</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,†said Lucy with a sneer, “but +she does not understand. Oh, Elise, I shall <i>die</i>, +I am so unhappy.â€</p> + +<p>“No,†said Elise softly, “you will not die so. +If it could be, I would be dead long since but I +am not, and I am happy—so very, very happy +just as my most dear ones who are dead would +wish me to be. So it will be with you.â€</p> + +<p>“I want to talk to you,†said Lucy.</p> + +<p>“Let us sit here then,†said Elise, “where no +one comes. There is a what you call ‘meeting’ +which my maman is here to attend. It goes on +in the upstairs, and she told me it would meet +for an hour or two. Tell me all your woe.â€</p> + +<p>She pulled Lucy down on a pile of velvet curtains +and patting her hot little hand, said softly, +“I wait.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chX'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER X</p> +</div> + + +<p>“When I was only two years old, my real +mamma died,†Lucy commenced, “and papa’s sister, +who was a great deal older than papa, came to +take care of us. I had a brother five years older +than I. Aunt Mabel was so kind to us, and let us +do just as we pleased about everything. I don’t +see why things could not have gone on like that +always, because as soon as I grew up I intended +to take charge of the house and run it for papa. +I am thirteen now so it wouldn’t have been long +before I could have done it. But when I was ten +years old, my brother died, and after that, papa +stayed away from the house all he could, although +Auntie Mabel was always talking to him about his +duty to me.</p> + +<p>“Well, one day, when I was eleven years old, +papa came home, and the very minute I saw his +face I knew something had happened.</p> + +<p>“‘Goodness, papa,’ I said, ‘you look as though +you had had good news!’ ‘I have, my dear,’ he +said, and then somehow as I looked at him I had +such a funny feeling. All at once I didn’t want +to <i>know</i> what made him look so glad. So I just +sat there and said nothing.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> + +<p>“‘Don’t you want to know what it is?’ he said, +and I said, ‘I don’t know whether I do or not.’</p> + +<p>“Papa came over and put his head down on my +shoulder the way he used to when he called me his +little comforter, and said, ‘Oh, yes, Lucy, you want +to know! Please say you want to know what your +daddy has to tell you.’</p> + +<p>“So I said, ‘All right,’ and Elise, he was going +to get married! Oh, I just hated it! He told me +lots about the lady. She was from Boston, and +that was why I had never seen her, and had never +heard about it. She had never been in Louisville. +He said she was beautiful, and she did look nice +in the picture he had in his pocket case, and he +said she was just as lovely as she could be. I just +sat there and let him talk, and finally he said, +‘Well, chicken, what do you think about it?’ I +don’t know what made me say what I did. Somehow +it popped out before I thought. I said, ‘Are +you sure she isn’t marrying you for your money?’</p> + +<p>“And papa sort of stiffened up and looked hard +at me, and finally he said in a queer voice, ‘Good +Lord, how old are you?’ I said, ‘I am eleven,’ and +he said, ‘Well, you sound like Mrs. Worldly Wiseman, +aged fifty. I suppose you will feel better +if I say that the lady has more money than I have, +and that I will be lucky if people do not claim that +<i>I</i> have been the fortune hunter.’</p> + +<p>“‘Well, what <i>is</i> she going to marry you for?’ +I asked. ‘She says she loves me,’ papa said. I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +said, ‘We don’t want her here! We are getting +along all right.’ Oh, I didn’t mean to be so ugly, +but somehow I <i>hated</i> to have papa marry anyone, +and I didn’t know this lady. So papa went off +awfully cross at me and the next person was Auntie +Mabel. Papa had told me first; he thought he +ought to, and then he went up and told Aunt Mabel. +She came down pretty soon. I was right there in +the big chair, trying to imagine what it would be +like to have a stranger in the house.</p> + +<p>“Auntie said, ‘Well, Lucy, what do you think +of the news?’ I said, ‘It is nothing to us; we can +keep in our rooms most of the time.’</p> + +<p>“‘I can’t,’ said Aunt Mabel, ‘because I shall +leave when she comes. Not that I have the slightest +objection, but all the same off I go. I knew it +would happen sooner or later, but Henry waited so +long that I hoped he was going to let well enough +alone. But men are all alike!’ And she <i>did</i> go, +Elise, the very day before papa brought the lady +home. And I <i>couldn’t</i> go because there was no +place for me to go and Auntie wouldn’t take me +with her because she said it would make papa +angry. So I had to stay whether I wanted to or +not. It was perfectly awful!â€</p> + +<p>“Poor, poor Lucee!†murmured Elise, patting +the hand she held.</p> + +<p>“I was expecting to see a lady ’most as old as +Auntie, and papa came up the steps with somebody +<i>young</i>. Why, she was <i>awfully</i> young, and had as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +much powder on her nose as anybody. I was looking +through the curtains, and when I saw them +coming, I ran upstairs and hid. Papa hunted and +called, but I wouldn’t answer, and I heard him +getting angry, and then she said, ‘Don’t mind, +Henry; it is the most natural thing in the world. +Let me find her, I know just where to look,’ and +papa said in the silliest way, ‘Go ahead, darling, +the house is yours, and the child too if you will have +such a bad one.’</p> + +<p>“Well, Elise, she came up those stairs and +straight to the table I was under, as though someone +had told her! The cover went down to the +floor, and she lifted it up, and said ‘Coop!’ but +I came out crosser than ever, and we had a horrid +time.</p> + +<p>“So that is the way it went. Worse and worse +all the time. Papa was not cross with me because +she wouldn’t let him be, and I felt pretty mean +to think a stranger had to tell my own father how +to treat me. At first she tried to act so sweet to +me, and used to want to play with me. I told her +I thought it was silly, but she said she had lots +of brothers and sisters, and they always romped +around together and had a fine time, and she said +if I would only be friends we could have such larks. +I told her I hoped I was polite and all she said +was to wonder where I got my disposition.</p> + +<p>“At first they used to make me stay down with +them at night after dinner, but by and by I was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +allowed to go upstairs. I said I wanted to study. +I always kept a study book open on the table, and +would go to reading it as soon as they came up. +Papa used to come in once in awhile, and she +was always asking me if she could help me with +my lessons. She said she used to help her +brothers.</p> + +<p>“After a year, one of the brothers came to visit. +He was a real nice boy, and I would have liked +him only he was so silly about her; used to want +to be with her all the time, and put his arm around +her and all that! We had a real good time though, +and I thought that I had been real nice to her +before him until the day he went home. I was in +the library, and he came in. I was just going to +ask him to put his autograph in my album when +he said: ‘Gee, you are a disagreeable little mutt! +My sister would half kill me for saying it, but honest, +I don’t see how she stands you!’</p> + +<p>“Of course I just walked out of the room. I +knew then that she had been telling things about +me. And I knew that must be the reason why +papa was so different to me.â€</p> + +<p>“But <i>was</i> he?†asked Elise wonderingly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, he was, and Miss Hooker says it is all my +fault. I had been coldly polite to her for a good +while before that. I read about a girl who was +abused by a stepmother and the girl was too noble +to abuse her in return. She was just ‘coldly +polite,’ the book said, and so was I. But after that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +horrid boy went home I let myself be as mean as I +could.â€</p> + +<p>Elise nodded. “I saw it in your face,†she said.</p> + +<p>“And the more I thought of it, the more I was +able to <i>act</i> ugly. It is so funny, Elise, the way she +makes everybody like her. Papa just gets worse all +the time, and the servants <i>adore</i> her, and she is so +popular with all the people who come to the house. +She makes them all like her—all but me.â€</p> + +<p>“We will talk about that later,†said Elise.</p> + +<p>Lucy sighed. “Well, things have been getting +worse and worse, but I think we have both tried +to keep it from papa. We hate each other, but we +don’t want him to know how bad things are in the +house. Papa is not happy, though. Oh, he has +talked and talked to me and threatened to send me +to school, and I always tell him I wish he would. +But the other day the worst happened. Papa had +gone to the office, and I was reading in the library, +and she was walking around and around, fussing +and singing under her breath and sort of acting +happy. It made me so mad. Presently she saw me +looking at her, and she said, ‘Don’t you wonder +why I am singing?’ and I said, ‘No, I had not noticed.’ +She went right on: ‘I have had some good +news, wonderful news, and I wonder if you would +like to hear it, Lucy?’</p> + +<p>“I said, ‘I am not at all interested,’ and went +right on looking at my book. She came over and +leaned down on the table close to my face, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +stared and stared at me. She said, ‘Look at me, +you bad, difficult, cruel child, look at me and tell +me why you are bound to hate me so!’ I never +saw anyone look so angry. Then her face changed +and got pleasant again, and she said, ‘What have +I <i>done</i>? Your own mother, if she can see this +house and its unhappy inmates, knows that I have +tried to make friends with you.’</p> + +<p>“I remembered how furious the girl in the book +was when her stepmother spoke of her mother, and +I raised my hand and slapped her.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, oh, oh!†cried Elise, covering her eyes. +“The poor, poor lady!â€</p> + +<p>Lucy went doggedly on.</p> + +<p>“Of course I had no business to do that. She +went to her room, and stayed there all day, and +when papa came home he went right up. I was +on my way to my room, and I heard him say, ‘I +don’t believe it is a headache at all. I think Lucy +must have been annoying you,’ and she said, ‘No,’ +and papa said, ‘I shall send that child away to +school.’ And she said, ‘No, give us one more +chance. I am going to see Miss Hooker, her Scout +Captain, and see if her influence is strong enough +to make Lucy see things in the right way.’ As +soon as I heard that I made up my mind to see the +Captain first, so I went over and that was the day +I saw you on the steps. We had had a long, long +talk and she said I was all wrong and took away +my trefoil. So here I am a dead Scout, and I am +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span> +so unhappy that I don’t know what to do and I +am going to run away. I want you to have my +pony. I am going to send it over to your house +tomorrow.â€</p> + +<p>“No, no, no!†cried Elise. “Everything is +wrong; so wrong! Oh, let me think! That poor, +poor lady! I am so, so sorry for her.â€</p> + +<p>“Sorry for <i>her</i>!†cried Lucy. “There is no +need to be sorry for <i>her</i>! I am the one to be sorry +for. <i>She</i> has everything.â€</p> + +<p>“Why has she?†asked Elise. “She has nothing +that you have not. She has your most dear +papa; so have you. You both have a most lovely +home, everything beautiful, friends, comfort. You +are safe in a great land, where no enemy may come +and keel all you love. You have both the same +things. You share them.†She sat thinking. +“Yes, she is the one to be sorry for, because she is +so disappoint. When she go to marry your <i>père</i>, +she have something promised that she never gets +and so she is full of mournsomeness.â€</p> + +<p>“She has everything papa can get for her,†said +Lucy bitterly. “I wish you could see the pearls +he gave her the other day.â€</p> + +<p>“Pearls!†said Elise scornfully. “What are +pearls? He promised her something only <i>you</i> could +give her, and now she has it not, and she is sad, +and you are sad; everybody sad. What do you +call her?â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t call her anything,†said Lucy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +stubbornly. “I wait until she looks at me and then +I say what I want to say.â€</p> + +<p>“Foolish, foolish one,†said Elise, “That is +what no one likes. Besides, it is what you call +rude not to speak the name. Most rude!†She +saw a frown deepen on Lucy’s brow and gently +pressed her hand.</p> + +<p>“You wanted to tell me, did you not?†she said +softly. “Now I want to tell you what I have not +so many times told because I cannot speak of it +unless my heart feels like it does bleed. I have +had <i>such</i> sorrows, and have seen such dreadfulness; +I have been so cold, and hongry, and frightened. +I have lived in the wet underground for so long +time that all this makes a differentness in me from +you. Something in me feels most old and weary. +I keep it shut up because my darling Maman Hargrave +wants me a happy child, and I want it for +myself, but I do feel the oldness when I see others +unhappy when they could so easily be full of joy. +No, let me talk!†she added, as Lucy tried to speak.</p> + +<p>“I must say this, I feel it on me, to save that +poor lady her happiness. I shall be sorry for you +some other day, but now I am most sad for her. +When she marry your papa, she think all the time +that she is going to have a most sweet daughter +because that is how your dear papa would tell her +of you, and then what happens? You know.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Lucee, dear, <i>dear</i> Lucee, there is one thing +you must give to her, right now today quick.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> + +<p>“What is that?†said Lucy, startled by Elise’s +vehemence.</p> + +<p>“<i>LOVE!</i>†cried Elise, her sweet voice thrilling. +“Love! So easy, so sweet! Please, my Lucee, +do not turn away. I know I am right on account +of the oldness in my heart. That tells me. Think +how most glad your own mother is to have the +pretty one taking such good care of your papa and +of you. Does she select your clothes?â€</p> + +<p>“Yes,†said Lucy.</p> + +<p>“They are always the prettiest,†said Elise. +“No other girl is so chic—what you call stunning. +And so modest, so quiet. And you yourself say +everyone but you loves her. You too must love +her, and the best of all. You <i>must</i>! You are a +Scout, and so you do always the right thing. +Where is she now?â€</p> + +<p>“Home, I suppose. I came down to bring some +of my last winter’s dresses. Oh, Elise, even if I +could, it is too late. I <i>can’t</i> go back to the beginning +again and start over.â€</p> + +<p>“Of course not,†said Elise wisely. “It is a +most bad waste of time when we try going back to +beginnings. It is better to start right from here. +<i>Anywhere</i> is the best place to start. When you +go home you start then! You start here by making +some new sweet thoughts in your heart. Dear +Lucee, please try! Please, for the sake of your +Elise who also has to try to be always happy and +not remember those blackness behind her. Won’t +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +you, please? I know I am right. Will you try +to give her love?â€</p> + +<p>Lucy, the tears pouring down her cheeks, leaned +her head against the shoulder near her.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how I <i>can</i>,†she said huskily. “But +I will try. I am so sick of everything the way it +is.â€</p> + +<p>“Of course you are!†said Elise. “One is always +seek of wrong. It makes a blackness over +everything.â€</p> + +<p>“What will I do? How will I begin?â€</p> + +<p>“I cannot tell you,†said Elise. “You will know +what to do. Something will tell you. Something +always tells. I think it is <i>le bon Dieu</i>. Just trust +and you will know what to do and to say. Come, +let us go. I hear the meeting talking itself down +the stairs. Is your car waiting?â€</p> + +<p>“Yes,†said Lucy dully as she allowed Elise to +lead her through the store. “Oh, Elise, I <i>don’t</i> +love her, and I don’t know what to do!â€</p> + +<p>“It is because of the hatefulness you put in your +heart long ago that you do not love her,†said the +wise, sad little girl who had suffered beyond her +years. She stood at the door of the limousine and +smiled at the little girl who sank back so wearily.</p> + +<p>“Don’t forget it is <i>now</i> we make those beginnings. +And you owe her what your dear papa +promised her, your love.†She stepped back with +a wave of her hand as the machine started away.</p> + +<p>Lucy’s heart throbbed violently as she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +approached her home. Her one hope was that Mrs. +Breen was out, so the moment might be delayed. +But as she passed the door of the library she saw +Mrs. Breen lying in a low lounging chair. How +pale she looked! Lucy was quite startled to see +the look of suffering and weakness on the beautiful +young face. She had been too blind to notice what +had been worrying her father of late. Was it <i>her</i> +fault? Had <i>her</i> actions brought her self-made +enemy so low? Lucy was shocked.</p> + +<p>She went up and put away her wraps. Still she +did not know what to do or what to say. Twice +she passed the library door. No thought came to +her. She went in, not speaking, and selected a book +at random from the nearest shelf. Mrs. Breen did +not speak but her great blue eyes seemed to follow +Lucy appealingly. Then Lucy found her courage. +What she said was rough and crude but it came +from the heart—an honest statement and appeal +for tolerance and understanding. She came, +clutching her book, and stood facing Mrs. Breen.</p> + +<p>Her voice sounded so husky and shaken that +she did not know it for hers.</p> + +<p>“Mamma,†she said, stumbling over the unfamiliar +word. “Mamma, you know I do not like +you, but I am going to try to love you!â€</p> + +<p>And then, clasping her book with both hands, +she fled.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chXI'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER XI</p> +</div> + + +<p>Years had passed before Mrs. Breen and Lucy +ever found the courage to speak of that day when +Lucy had hurried from the room, leaving Mrs. +Breen too surprised to follow her, or even speak. +She sat thinking, so glad and so happy and so proud +of the courage shown by Lucy. She heard the front +door close softly and was not surprised, a little +later, to have one of the maids come and tell her +that Miss Lucy had telephoned that she was at +Mrs. Hargrave’s, and would stay for supper with +Elise.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Breen sat thinking for an hour, then the +right thought came to her. She hastened to the +telephone and had a long talk with her husband, +and after a good deal of argument, she went to +her room, packed a small trunk, ordered the car, +had a talk with the housekeeper, and went out. +She drove to her husband’s office, and he ushered +her into his private room.</p> + +<p>“Now what is all this?†he demanded.</p> + +<p>“I told you over the telephone what happened +in the library,†Mrs. Breen said. “My dear, I +am <i>so</i> happy and so proud of Lucy! But there +will be the most distressing awkwardness for a +little, unless something out of the ordinary happens +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +to help her out. Now I have never been away without +you since we were married. So I have decided +to give the child a chance to regain her poise +and strengthen her new resolutions. Something +has changed her, and I am contented to accept +it without question until the time comes when +she will tell me of her own accord. I will go home +for a week, and you must spend all the time you +can with Lucy. And when you feel like it, speak +well of me.â€</p> + +<p>“That will be a hard job,†said her husband, +smiling.</p> + +<p>“I suppose so,†said Mrs. Breen. “Another +thing, to keep her interest in me, if you should decide +to repaper my room and want to <i>surprise</i> me, +I would be perfectly satisfied with Lucy’s taste.â€</p> + +<p>So when Lucy came in that night, dreading the +next step toward the right, she found only her +father reading under the library light.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Donna Lucia,†he said, looking up. +“Did you know that we are orphans?â€</p> + +<p>“No,†said Lucy. “What has happened?â€</p> + +<p>“Mamma decided very suddenly that she had to +go home to Boston to attend to some matters, and +she did not have time to telephone you or call +around at Mrs. Hargrave’s. But she managed to +stop in at the office, and she has left me in your +charge.â€</p> + +<p>Lucy heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, +she would have a little time to herself anyway.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span> + +<p>A couple of days later Mr. Breen approached +the subject of the new wall-paper. He merely <i>approached</i> +it, because at the first mention Lucy +fairly flung herself on it and appropriated it. The +very thing, she decided. She thought that room +was about as shabby as it could be. Could she +select the paper? Of course she could! She knew +exactly what mamma would like.</p> + +<p>At her use of the word mamma, Mr. Breen’s +heart leaped. He had been a patient, but very unhappy +man, and the thought that his little household +might become united was the greatest happiness +he could imagine. So he grumbled out that +he was glad of that, because he never could tell +the <i>least</i> thing about the silly strips of paper they +showed in the stores, and Lucy could go ahead and +get whatever she wanted.</p> + +<p>But the following morning, when a van backed +up to the door and a couple of men commenced to +take away all the prettiest wicker furniture in the +house he demanded some explanation.</p> + +<p>“Why, they have to be painted for mamma’s new +room,†said the practical Miss Breen. “You said +I could go ahead, and I have gone!â€</p> + +<p>“All our furniture has gone too, I should say,†+said Mr. Breen.</p> + +<p>“Just the best of the wicker,†answered Lucy. +“I thought and thought all last night, and I have +decided just what would be the <i>loveliest</i> thing in +the world for her, with her violet blue eyes and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +golden hair. So when you were shaving I telephoned +for the men to come and take the chairs +and tables and that chaise-longue and they are all +going to be painted.</p> + +<p>“And today you had better write her that you +think it would be a good thing, as long as she is +there, to stay another week. Don’t let her suspect, +but <i>don’t</i> let her come home.â€</p> + +<p>“Very well,†said Mr. Breen with a twinkle in +his eye, but outwardly very meek. “Just as you +say. Send the bills to me.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, I was going to,†said Lucy with the happiest +laugh he had heard from her for months.</p> + +<p>Mr. Breen did not come home for luncheon, and +every day Lucy managed to have Elise or Rosanna +or Helen take that meal with her.</p> + +<p>Lucy worked like mad and nearly wore the workmen +out, she hurried them so. Mrs. Breen decided +to make a longer stay, but even then there was but +little time, because Lucy had decided that all the +woodwork must be re-enameled. When that was +done and the paper on, she cast aside the old rug +with scorn, and took the three girls downtown to +buy others. As the days went on, Lucy found that +her point of view was wholly changed. She was +so intent on the beautiful surprise she was planning +that it seemed to sweep her mind clean of all the +dark and unworthy feelings that had filled it. She +even wrote to Mrs. Breen at a suggestion from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +Elise, a pleasant friendly letter, ending, “With +love, Lucy.â€</p> + +<p>And to her surprise Mrs. Breen answered the letter +at once, with a long one all about her visit, and +enclosing funny little cartoons of each one of the +family, including the boy who had spoken his mind +to Lucy. Strange to say, Lucy was able to acknowledge +the truth of the young man’s remark.</p> + +<p>“Some day,†said Lucy to herself, “if this turns +out all right, I will tell him that he was <i>perfectly +right</i>.â€</p> + +<p>Lucy was coming to think, with a sense of deep +chagrin, that she herself had been the one in the +wrong. And being an honest girl and wanting very +humbly and deeply to live up to the pledge of the +Girl Scouts, she was growing most anxious to make +good her faults.</p> + +<p>So she drove the painters and paperhangers and +upholsterers almost wild, and had the happiness +of seeing the beautiful room all settled and in order +two days before Mrs. Breen was expected. It +had a hard time staying settled however, because +Lucy spent all her time after school trying things +in new places to see if they looked any better. Her +father vowed that he would go up and nail the +things down, but he was just as proud and pleased +as Lucy.</p> + +<p>With all the planning and plotting, and various +jaunts to the shops together, and to some movies +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +and once to the theatre, Lucy and her father had +entered a new epoch in their lives. They too +seemed to have forgotten the past.</p> + +<p>As Elise said, they found that they could make +a beginning anywhere. And once begun, they +found that it was like a door that had opened into +a beautiful place full of happiness and sunshine—a +door that closed softly behind them and shut +out all the despair and gloom on the other side.</p> + +<p>When the day came for Mrs. Breen’s return, Mr. +Breen insisted on Lucy coming to meet her, and +Lucy, in whom some of the old dread seemed struggling +to awake, went silently. But when she was +suddenly caught in a warm embrace, before even +her father was greeted, and when a sweet voice said, +“Oh, what a <i>long</i> two weeks it has been, Lucy! +<i>Do</i> say you have missed me!†Lucy felt that all +was indeed well with her world.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Breen had brought another brother with +her: a shy, awkward boy, evidently frightened to +death of Lucy, a fact which of course set her completely +at her ease. They drove home, and Lucy +and her father dogged Mrs. Breen’s footsteps up +the stairs when she said she would go and take off +her things. Not for worlds would they have missed +seeing her first look at the newly decorated room. +And it was worth all the trouble to witness her +delight and appreciation.</p> + +<p>So Happiness and Love and Understanding came +into the Breen home. Lucy wore her trefoil with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +a new gratitude and a new understanding. Elise +felt a happiness that she had thought she could +never feel, for she had helped a sister Scout through +a dark and dreadful place in her life. Mrs. Breen +was so happy that she sang and sang all the day +long, and when one day a baby boy set up a lusty +roar in the beautiful room that Lucy had made, +it was Lucy who named him, and Lucy who assumed +such airs of superiority in speaking of “my baby +brother†that the girls grew to avoid the subject +of children in general as it was sure to bring from +Lucy some anecdote to prove the vast superiority +and beauty of the Breen baby.</p> + +<p>Rosanna was happy too. Uncle Robert had been +away longer than Rosanna liked. She was surprised +to find how much she missed Uncle Robert. +And much as she loved him, and wanted him to +be happy, she decided that it was really a good +thing that he did <i>not</i> care for girls. The various +uncles who did like girls she noticed had a way of +marrying one of them and leaving home for good. +That was a poor plan, thought Rosanna, as she felt +the silence in the big old house. No number of +girls could make the whistly noises Uncle Robert +could when he ran upstairs three steps at a time +or dashed down again. No one but Uncle Robert +could tootle so entrancingly on the flute, or pick out +such funny records for the Victrola. No one in the +world would think to bring one a box of candy +and leave it hidden in his hat, or just outside the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +door for one to find after dinner. No other Uncle +would remember a little girl’s birthday once a +month with a new dollar bill.</p> + +<p>Rosanna, driven by a real loneliness to confide +in someone, spent much time with Miss Hooker and +while Rosanna honestly thought she was attending +strictly to Scout business, the conversation was +sure to slip around to Uncle Robert. Miss Hooker +never appeared to join Rosanna in her talk, but it +was surprising what a good listener she proved to +be. The only time she said anything was when +Rosanna would enlarge on the way Uncle Robert +felt about girls. Then Miss Hooker would always +assert that she thought he was perfectly right, because +she herself thought very little of men. Silly +creatures she said they were, at which loyal Rosanna +would always declare, “But Uncle Robert +isn’t.â€</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker would answer, “<i>Possibly</i> not,†in a +manner that insinuated that perhaps he wasn’t, and +perhaps he <i>was</i>, but Rosanna let it go.</p> + +<p>However, Rosanna was happy because Uncle Robert +had written her that he was coming home in a +day or two, and that she might get ready to look +in the left hand pocket of his overcoat, and whatever +was there she could have. When she told Miss +Hooker she was grieved to hear her say that she +was not sure that she would be around to see the +surprise, because she was planning to go away herself, +and wasn’t it too bad?</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> + +<p>“I should say it was!†said Rosanna. “Why, +then you won’t see Uncle Robert either!â€</p> + +<p>“No,†said Miss Hooker, “but it really doesn’t +make any difference. I don’t suppose I am any +more anxious to see him than he is to see me.â€</p> + +<p>When Uncle Robert appeared and came up the +front steps three at a time as usual, Rosanna was +at the door to meet him. She jumped into his +arms and hugged him until he begged for mercy.</p> + +<p>As she let him go, she happened to think of the +left hand pocket, and had to think which was the +left. While she was deciding, she heard a funny +noise, and there in the pocket was a fuzzy head. +The most adorable little head! It was a tiny baby +collie, looking like a small bear. Rosanna had +him out in a second, and Uncle Robert left her with +her new pet while he went to speak to his mother.</p> + +<p>That night he came up to show Rosanna how to +put her puppy to bed for the night, and when the +little fellow at last snuggled down in his basket, +and went to sleep, Uncle Robert settled down in +his favorite chair and lighted a cigarette and +wanted to hear all the news.</p> + +<p>“What shall I start with?†asked Rosanna, listening +to the soft breathing of the little collie.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it doesn’t matter,†said Uncle Robert. +“Begin with Miss—er Gwenny.â€</p> + +<p>“Why, you needn’t call her <i>Miss</i>,†said Rosanna. +“You never used to! I thought first you were +going to say begin with Miss Hooker.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> + +<p>“Ridiculous!†laughed Uncle Robert, cocking +his eye up at the ceiling. “Begin with Gwenny, +of course.â€</p> + +<p>“Well,†said Rosanna, “we have only had two +letters from her mother. One was soon after you +went away, and said that Gwenny was very comfortable +indeed, and had a fine room, and was making +a great many friends. The doctor couldn’t tell +when he would operate, because he would have to +take Gwenny any time she happened to be at her +best. That was about all of that letter. The next +one was just the other day. And Uncle Robert, +they have operated! They telegraphed for Doctor +Rick, and he is there now. But Mrs. Harter wrote +that the operation was over and Doctor Branshaw +thinks it will be perfectly successful.â€</p> + +<p>“Well, that is perfectly splendid!†said Uncle +Robert. “Did she tell you how Gwenny stood it?â€</p> + +<p>“Yes. She said for a couple of hours they were +afraid her heart was going to stop, but that Doctor +Branshaw stood right over her, and had everything +ready to start it again if they could. He stayed +with her all night. You ought to hear the way +Mrs. Harter talks about him. She thinks he is a +saint, as well as the greatest doctor in the whole +world.â€</p> + +<p>“He assays pretty well toward solid gold,†said +Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Harter says they don’t know when they +will be able to get home, but already Gwenny sleeps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +better and is beginning to want to eat. She never +did, you know.â€</p> + +<p>“That is certainly fine news,†said Uncle Robert. +“Anything else happened while I was away?â€</p> + +<p>“You know that Lucy Breen?†asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert shook his head.</p> + +<p>“She has turned out to be a real nice girl, and +Helen and Elise and I go over there a lot. And +her mother (it’s really her stepmother, only Lucy +is mad if you call her that) is perfectly lovely. +If you could only marry <i>her</i>, Uncle Robert!â€</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Rosanna, but Mr. Breen looks husky +and he might object.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, that was a joke,†said Rosanna. “Like +the time you said you pretty near loved Miss +Hooker. I wish you could have heard her laugh +when I told her that.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, you told her, did you?†said Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>“It was so funny I had to.â€</p> + +<p>“What did she say?†asked Uncle Robert, sitting +up suddenly.</p> + +<p>“She said she thought you were the most amusing +person she had ever met and that no one could +possibly take you seriously. I agreed with her.â€</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet you did!†said Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>“She has gone away,†said Rosanna as an afterthought. +“She went today. I told her I was +sorry she wouldn’t be able to see what you brought +me, and wouldn’t see you either, but she said it +didn’t make any difference as she wasn’t any more +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +anxious to see you than she supposed you were to +see her.â€</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert laughed a short, queer laugh.</p> + +<p>“Well, Rosanna, just you watch what happens +now! I will just pay her up for that.â€</p> + +<p>“What do you care?†asked Rosanna. “I don’t +see what difference it makes. She likes you all +right; she thinks you are so funny.â€</p> + +<p>“I will show her how funny I can be,†said Uncle +Robert. “Where has she gone?â€</p> + +<p>“To Atlantic City,†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“I may see her there,†said Uncle Robert. “The +doctor says the sea air would be great for me.â€</p> + +<p>“What ails you?†said Rosanna anxiously. +“You look perfectly well.â€</p> + +<p>“A little trouble with my heart,†said Uncle +Robert soberly. “It acts like the very deuce, Rosanna. +Part of the time it feels sort of—sort of, +well, sort of <i>empty</i>, and then it has spells when +I get to thinking hard and beats as fast as it can. +It is awful, Rosanna.â€</p> + +<p>“I should say it was!†said Rosanna, “Oh, +Uncle Robert, <i>do</i> try to get it well! If anything +should happen to you, I would think it was that +benefit. You had to work so hard.â€</p> + +<p>“I think myself that had something to do with +it,†said Robert, “but of course I only did my duty, +and I don’t blame a soul.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chXII'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER XII</p> +</div> + + +<p>There was a long silence during which Rosanna +studied her uncle closely. She even forgot the +puppy. What if anything should happen to Uncle +Robert? As she looked at him it flashed over her +that she cared for him with all her heart. She +would not know what to do without him. She felt +very sad, and when Uncle Robert looked up and +surprised the worried expression on her face he +laughed, and said:</p> + +<p>“Cheer up, sweetness! I am all right, and I +want you to promise me that you won’t tell mother +what I have just told you. I don’t want to worry +her.â€</p> + +<p>“I promise, Uncle Robert; and I always keep +my promises,†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“That is a good thing,†said Uncle Robert. “I +wish I had known that before. I would have had +you make me some.†But he wouldn’t explain that +remark, and soon went out, not seeming to care +for the rest of the news which, being all about the +Scouts, Rosanna had left until the last as the most +important.</p> + +<p>The Girl Scouts were very busy now getting ready +for Christmas. There was a cast-iron rule in that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +particular troop that all Christmas presents should +be finished and wrapped up three weeks before +Christmas.</p> + +<p>So with all their own work well out of the way, +they were busy as bees making tarleton stockings +and collecting toys and dolls for the particular +orphanage they had assumed the care of. Louisville +is full of orphanages, and every year the girls +were in the habit of choosing one of them for their +attention. They dressed a tree, and secured presents +for each of the children. These presents were +often dolls and toys that had been cast aside by +more fortunate children, but the girls took them +and mended and painted and dressed them until +you would have been surprised at the result. At +least they never offered anything that looked +shabby. The stockings were filled with popcorn +and candy, and a big golden orange gladdened each +little heart.</p> + +<p>Rosanna worked harder than anyone. School +went right on as it always does whether or not +Girl Scouts are busy at other things, and every +spare moment was spent with the dear little puppy +that her uncle had brought her. Mr. Horton still +complained to Rosanna about his heart, but was +unable to go east as he had planned. He often +asked Rosanna if Miss Hooker had returned, although +Rosanna had told him a good many times +that she did not expect to come back before spring.</p> + +<p>But news came from Gwenny. She was so much +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +better that she could come back. As Miss Hooker +was away, and Uncle Robert always seemed to +have time to do things, the Girl Scouts made him +a committee to go and pay the doctor and the hospital +bills, and see that Gwenny and her mother +reached home safely.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert dashed off to Cincinnati that very +night. The next day he returned without Gwenny, +and with a queer look on his face asked Rosanna +to ask their Lieutenant, who was in charge of the +troop, to call a meeting that very afternoon or evening. +Rosanna called Miss Jamieson up, and between +them they were able to get word to all the +girls. Rosanna was as excited as any of them, +because Uncle Robert would not tell her what the +matter was. When the girls all gathered in Rosanna’s +sitting-room, he came in, looking very mysterious +and important.</p> + +<p>“I have news for you girls—quite remarkable +news, I think. To begin, I went down to Cincinnati +and found Gwenny so improved that I actually +did not know her. Of course she is still in a wheel +chair, and will have to stay there most of the time +for the next year but every day she goes through +certain exercises, and soon will begin to take a few +steps. Doctor Branshaw assured me that she will +some day be as well as any of you. They have +taught Mrs. Harter just how to rub her, and help +her with her exercises.</p> + +<p>“After I had seen Gwenny I went down and paid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span> +the hospital bill. It came to a little over two +hundred dollars. I have the items in my pocket. +Then I went to Doctor Branshaw’s office, and asked +him for his bill. He said, ‘Sit down. I want to +have a talk with you.’ Well, girls, he wanted to +know all about you, and the work you are doing, +and how many there are of you in the troop that is +taking care of Gwenny. I told him about the benefit, +and he said he had heard about that from +Gwenny, and her mother as well.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t want to bore him, so after we had +talked you pretty well out, and over, I asked him +again for his bill, and he said, ‘Horton, there is +no bill.’ I said, ‘Well, sir, whenever you will have +it made out, I will give a check for it. The money +the girls made is banked in my name for the sake +of convenience.’</p> + +<p>“‘How much is there?’ asked the doctor. I +thought he didn’t want to charge over the amount +we have so I told him. He fiddled with a pencil +for awhile, then he said:</p> + +<p>“‘Horton, I make the rich pay, and pay well, +but I do not intend to ask those girls of yours a +cent for this operation.’â€</p> + +<p>A great “O-o-o-o-h!†went up from the girls.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert went on.</p> + +<p>“Then the doctor said, before I could thank him, +‘I wonder if the girls would mind if I make a suggestion,’ +and I assured him that you would like it +very much.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> + +<p>“‘Well then,’ said the doctor, ‘here it is. +Gwenny will require a great deal of care for many +months to come, rubbing and so forth. Why don’t +those good girls take the money and buy a little +house somewhere on the edge of the city, or on a +quiet street, where the Harters could live and where +Mrs. Harter would not have to work so hard to earn +the rent? From what she says, the boys earn +nearly enough to feed the family. What do you +think of that?’</p> + +<p>“I told him that I thought it was a splendid idea, +and would see what could be done about it. Then +he made the finest suggestion of all. He said that +another week in the hospital would be of great +benefit to Gwenny, and why didn’t I come home +and see you and if you all approve, we can buy a +small house and settle it and Gwenny can be moved +right there.â€</p> + +<p>A shriek of delight went up, and everyone commenced +to talk at once.</p> + +<p>“Order, order!†cried Mr. Horton. He could +scarcely make himself heard.</p> + +<p>At last after much talking, it was settled that Mr. +Horton should look at a number of houses, and +when he had seen them he was to select the three +that seemed most promising and take all the girls +to see them. But he stipulated that a couple of +older ladies should look them over with him, and +Mrs. Breen and Mrs. Hargrave were chosen by +unanimous vote.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> + +<p>“Now, girls, how are you going to thank the +Doctor?†he asked.</p> + +<p>No one knew and finally Rosanna suggested that +it would be well to think it over. So they all +trooped home, Uncle Robert promising to make a +report at the end of three days.</p> + +<p>It was a long three days, but it passed finally, and +Uncle Robert appeared with an account of three +little bungalows that seemed all that he had hoped +for, and more. One of them he thought was the +one for them to take, as it was right on a good +part of Preston Street where the children could +easily get to school. It was brand new, and had +never been occupied. Indeed it was not finished +but would be within two or three days. After the +girls had seen the three houses, Mr. Horton said he +would tell them which one Mrs. Hargrave and Mrs. +Breen liked the best. Of course all the girls piled +into the automobiles of the girls who had them, and +made the rounds, and equally of course they all +decided on the Preston Street house which was +the very one that Mrs. Hargrave and Mrs. Breen +had liked. It was all done except the plumbing +in the kitchen, so Mr. Horton went right over to +see Minnie who was still keeping house for the +Harter children. Minnie heard all about the new +plan, and Mr. Horton asked:</p> + +<p>“Now, Minnie, do you feel like moving these +people all over there, before Mrs. Harter and +Gwenny come home, or is it too much to ask you?â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> + +<p>“Just you fetch me a moving van the day you +want we should move,†said Minnie, “and I will +do the rest.†She cast an eye around the dilapidated, +shabby room. “My, my! What a piece of +good luck for the <i>deservingest</i> woman! I tell you, +Mr. Robert, the time I’ve been here has been a +lesson to me. The way she has scrimped, and +saved, and patched, and turned, and mended, and +went without! My young man and me on his wages +ought to put away fifty dollars every month of our +lives. And so I told him we was going to do. Of +course I will move ’em! And Mr. Robert, if it +was so I could go around and see the house, perhaps +I could tell better how to pack.â€</p> + +<p>“That’s right, Minnie. Suppose we go over +now,†said Mr. Horton.</p> + +<p>Minnie was overjoyed when she saw the little +house, and at once picked out a room for Gwenny. +The other children could double up, but Gwenny +should have a room to herself. Minnie seemed +thoughtful all the way home, and finally said, “Mr. +Horton, up in your garret, there is a pile of window +curtains that don’t fit anywhere, and they will +never be used. I have handled ’em a million times +while I worked for your mother. And there’s a +square table with a marble top that your mother +can’t abide the sight of, and a couple of brass beds +put up there when they went out of date. If your +mother would spare any of those things I could fix +that house so tasty.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> + +<p>“I don’t suppose she wants any of them,†said +Robert heartily. “I will speak to her about them +when I go home, and after supper Rosanna and I +will take a joy ride over here and tell you what +her answer is.â€</p> + +<p>The answer was that Mrs. Horton was only too +glad to get rid of the things Minnie had mentioned, +and suggested that before settling the house Minnie +might go through the attic and see if there was +anything else that she thought would be of service. +Mrs. Horton, knowing that Minnie would know +better than she could, just what the Harters would +appreciate, refrained from making any suggestions; +and Minnie found many treasures in the attic. +There were portières, and a soft low couch, the very +thing for Gwenny to rest on in the pleasant sitting-room, +and the beds, and a table and two bureaus. +And she found two carpet rugs.</p> + +<p>She set Mary and Myron to work with a pot of +cream colored paint, and in two days the shabby +old dining-room table and shabbier chairs were all +wearing bright new coats.</p> + +<p>As soon as ever she could, she called on Mr. Robert +for the moving van, and moved everything over +to the new house. Settling was a joy, there were +so many to help. All the Girl Scouts wanted to +do something, and between them they outfitted +Gwenny’s dresser (a walnut one that was put +through the paint test and came out pretty as could +be). The two carpet rugs were laid down in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> +living-room and the dining-room, and looked +scarcely worn at all after Minnie had finished +scrubbing, and Tommy and Myron had whipped +them. The dining-room rug was dark blue, and +how that table and those chairs did show up on it. +The springs were broken down in the couch Minnie +had picked out, but she turned it over and her +young man nailed a new piece of webbing underneath, +and in five minutes it was as good as new. +Rosanna helped her as much as she could. When +they were busy putting up the curtains Minnie said, +“Rosanna dear, I think your Uncle Robert looks +thin.â€</p> + +<p>“I think he does too,†said Rosanna, but remembering +her promise would say no more.</p> + +<p>“In love,†said Minnie, wisely nodding her head.</p> + +<p>“Of course <i>not</i>,†said Rosanna. “He doesn’t +like girls.â€</p> + +<p>“No, he doesn’t. Oh no!†said Minnie. “Of +course he is in love! Do you mean to tell me, +Rosanna, that you don’t know that he is in love +with little Miss Hooker? Don’t tell me that!â€</p> + +<p>“I <i>do</i> tell you,†said Rosanna. “He doesn’t +even like her, sweet as she is.â€</p> + +<p>“My good land, hear the child!†said Minnie, +sitting down on the top step of the ladder, and +letting the stiffly starched curtain trail to the floor.</p> + +<p>“Do you remember the day she came to see you +when you were sick after your accident, and your +grandmother had said you could be a Girl Scout? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +Do you remember that your Uncle Robert was +there when she came in? Well, believe me, Rosanna, +your Uncle Robert fell in love with her that +very day and hour and minute, and that’s the +truth.â€</p> + +<p>“I wish it was,†sighed Rosanna. “I <i>do</i> wish +it was, but he truly does not like her. I don’t +know why.â€</p> + +<p>“Well, that beats me!†said Minnie, picking up +the slack of the curtain again, and sadly hanging +it. “I certainly am disappointed, for she is the +<i>sweetest</i> little bit I ever hope to see, and it would +be a mercy to see that good, kind, nice actin’ young +man get the likes of her rather than some high +nosed madam, who would look down on all his +humble friends (as friends we <i>are</i>, Rosanna, as +you may well believe).â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna did not answer. She was too low in +her mind. She knew that Uncle Robert did not +care for anyone, but what if someone <i>should</i> grab +him anyhow? Rosanna felt that life was full of +perils.</p> + +<p>Two days later the little house was in perfect +order, and Uncle Robert went again to Cincinnati +after Gwenny. It was decided that no one should +meet them on account of tiring Gwenny after her +journey, so Uncle Robert carried Gwenny to the +automobile and took her home to the little new +house, her mother looking back with her sweet, +anxious smile from the front seat of the automobile. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +When they reached the Preston Street house, and +Mary and Myron and boisterous Tommy and little +Luella all filed out quite quiet, but brimming with +happiness, Mrs. Harter could only stare.</p> + +<p>“This is Gwenny’s house, Mrs. Harter, deeded +to her. Come in!†said Mr. Horton, as Minnie +rushed out and led the dazed woman into all the +glories of the new home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Horton carried Gwenny straight to her own +room, and laid her down on the sparkling, gleaming +brass bed, where he left her listening to Mary’s +rapid explanations. When he went downstairs he +found Mrs. Harter in the kitchen, crying silently.</p> + +<p>“Now, now, Mrs. Harter, you must not do that!†+he said. “Brace up like a good woman! Gwenny +will need a lot of care for a few days, and you will +need all your strength.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, but I am so thankful that my heart feels +as though it would break!†said Mrs. Harter.</p> + +<p>Mr. Horton laughed. “It won’t break,†he said. +“Minnie, shall I take you home?â€</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir, but my Tom is coming over a +little later. I have supper all fixed, so we will +have a small feast to celebrate, after Gwenny is +attended to and safe in bed, so I will get home +nicely, thank you.â€</p> + +<p>“Good night then,†said Mr. Horton. “Don’t +let those Girl Scouts run over you, Mrs. Harter.†+He raised his hat and ran down the steps whistling.</p> + +<p>“There goes one good man,†said Minnie +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +solemnly. “Come, dear, and take off your hat in your +own house, and see the ducky closet under the stairs +to keep it in.â€</p> + +<p>And so it was that Gwenny came home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Horton sped to his own home as fast as he +dared drive the car, the chauffeur sitting silently +beside him. Robert was too happy to let anyone +else handle the wheel. Once more he dashed up +the steps three at a time, whistling. Rosanna was +at the door.</p> + +<p>“Be careful of your heart, Uncle Robert,†she +whispered, looking around to see that her grandmother +was not within hearing. “Were they +pleased?â€</p> + +<p>“<i>Were</i> they?†said Uncle Robert. “I should +say they <i>were</i>! Everybody perfectly happy! +Gwenny staring around her pretty room, and Mrs. +Harter crying in the sink. Yes, everybody is +happy. Teedle-ee, teedle-oo!†warbled Uncle Robert.</p> + +<p>“How good and kind you are, dear Uncle Robert!†+said Rosanna tenderly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <i>ain’t I</i>?†said Uncle Robert, deliberately +ungrammatical. “Oh, yes, I <i>be</i>!†he went on +chanting, as he sat down and fished out a cigarette. +Then changing to a sober tone, “Rosanna, whom +do you think I found in Cincinnati? Up there +at that Hospital as large as life?â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t know,†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Well, if you will believe me, there was that bad +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +little bit of a Miss Hooker, who had come back +from Atlantic City to see that Gwenny was all +right. She helped me bring them home. And +Rosanna, perhaps I didn’t <i>get even</i> with her, for +what she said about my being funny! You know +I told you I would. I did! It was hard, hard +work but I done it, I done it! Tra-la-de-lu-de-lu-de-i-i-i-i-i!†+yodeled Uncle Robert, whisking the ash +off his cigarette.</p> + +<p>“What did you do to her?†asked Rosanna in +a small, fearful voice.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert looked very sternly at Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“What did I do?†he asked. “What did I <i>do</i>? +Well, I made her promise to marry me; <i>that’s</i> what +I did! Pretty smart uncle, hey, Rosanna?â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chXIII'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER XIII</p> +</div> + + +<p>Rosanna sank feebly down on the hall bench, +and to her own surprise and Uncle Robert’s dismay +burst into tears.</p> + +<p>“Well, who next?†said Uncle Robert. “Mrs. +Harter crying in the sink, and you weeping all over +our nice hall. Oh dear, what a wet, wet world!â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, don’t mind me,†said Rosanna, choking +back her sobs. “I am perfectly happy, only everything +turns out so differently from everything +else!â€</p> + +<p>“I suppose you are right,†granted Uncle Robert. +“You must be if you know what you mean.â€</p> + +<p>“I am not sure <i>what</i> I mean,†said Rosanna, +“but I am so glad, glad, <i>glad</i> that you are going +to marry that dear darling Miss Hooker instead +of that high nosed madam!â€</p> + +<p>“What are you talking about?†demanded Robert. +“High nosed? Who is she?â€</p> + +<p>“I think it is someone Minnie made up,†said +Rosanna. “She said what a shame if she married +you.â€</p> + +<p>“Well, she didn’t and won’t,†declared Uncle +Robert with conviction. “And as far as <i>nose</i> goes, +my girl has only enough nose so that one knows +it <i>is</i> a nose. Get that, Rosanna?â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> + +<p>Rosanna giggled. “Have you told grandmother?†+she asked.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert looked suddenly sobered.</p> + +<p>“No, I didn’t, and I should have done so first +and I meant to, and it is all your fault, Rosanna.â€</p> + +<p>“How so?†asked Rosanna in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Well, if it hadn’t been for you I would never +have been traipsing over the country on errands +for the Girl Scouts and you wouldn’t have been +waiting for me in the hall, and I wouldn’t have +been so fussed at seeing you that I would forget +to tell my mamma first. And she won’t like it +unless she gets told right quick,†added Uncle Robert, +getting up. Rosanna wiped her eyes, whereupon +Uncle Robert sang:</p> + +<div> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>“There, little girlie, don’t you cry,</p> +<p style='margin:0 auto 0 4ex'>We’ll have a wedding by and by,â€</p> +</div> + +<p>and ran up the stairs, three at a time, whistling +as he went in search of his mother.</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert was not one to take chances. After +seeing his mother, who was truly pleased and had +the good sense to show it, he started to Mrs. Hargrave’s, +and after a short visit left that dear old +lady busy at the telephone. The result was a wonderful +announcement luncheon a week later, given +by Mrs. Hargrave, at which the little Captain +looked dimplier and sweeter than ever. After the +luncheon she went over to Rosanna’s house, where +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +she found all her Girl Scouts ready to congratulate +her.</p> + +<p>“You won’t give us up, will you?†they all asked +anxiously, and she assured them that she would +not. Seeing that they were really anxious, she +made them all sit down close around her, and one +by one they sang the Scout songs. They were happier +after that, and only Rosanna was just a little +lonely when she thought of the days when Uncle +Robert was away, and reflected that all the days +would be like that by-and-by. Just her grandmother +and herself in the great stately old house, +not occupying half of the rooms, and making so +little noise that it made her lonely just to think +of it. However, she put it out of her mind as +bravely as she could.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker stayed to dinner, and Mrs. Horton +was so charming that Rosanna could not help +thinking what a very lovely young lady she must +have been. After dinner, Mrs. Horton calmly carried +her little guest away to her own sitting-room +for what she called a consultation, and Rosanna +and Uncle Robert who had nothing whatever to +consult about now, sat and read. Upstairs, Mrs. +Horton sat down opposite her son’s sweetheart, and +said smilingly:</p> + +<p>“I want to say something to you that Robert +does not dream I am going to say, and if you do +not approve, I want you to be frank enough and +brave enough to tell me. Will you?â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> + +<p>“Yes, indeed I will,†Miss Hooker promised.</p> + +<p>“I am an old woman, my dear, and silent. Sometimes +I fear I am not very agreeable. It is a hard +and unchildlike life that our little Rosanna leads +here with me. I want you to ask yourself if for +her sake you could bring yourself to live here for +a few years. I know how dear a new little house is +to a bride’s heart, and I tremble to ask you such +a favor. But Rosanna has a lonely life at best, +and with you here this house could be made gay +indeed.</p> + +<p>“I would never ask it for myself, but I do for +Rosanna. I would gladly do anything I could for +her, but I cannot fill the house with the sort of +joy and gayety that she should have. She loves +you deeply, and her Uncle Robert is her ideal.</p> + +<p>“Wait a moment, dear,†she added as she saw +her guest was about to speak. “I want to tell you +what we could do. There are nine large rooms on +this floor. You could select what you want for a +suite, and you and Robert could decorate and furnish +and arrange them to suit yourselves. I would +be so glad to do this just as you wish, and then of +course, my dear, the house is all yours besides. +Could you consider it?â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t have to consider it,†said the little Captain. +“I have already thought about it, and was +worried about Rosanna, but I knew that she could +not come to us and leave you all alone here. I +am sure Bob will be glad to arrange it as you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +suggest, for he is very devoted to his mother and to +Rosanna as well.â€</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton gave a sigh of relief. “I can’t +thank you enough, my dearest girl,†she said. “No +one wants to make your life as happy as I do, and +if there is anything I can ever do for you, you have +only to tell me. Now we must have everything +new in the rooms you want, so we will go down +and tell Robert and Rosanna. How glad that child +will be!â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna was tired and very nervous, and when +Mrs. Horton and Miss Hooker came down with +their great plan, Rosanna once more, to her own +horror, commenced to cry.</p> + +<p>“Well, for goodness’ sake,†her uncle cried, “I +never <i>did</i> see anything like this! What ails the +child? This certainly settles me! I shall never, +never plan to get married again. Rosanna is turning +into a regular <i>founting</i>; yes, ma’am, a regular +<i>founting</i>!â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, I am so sorry—no, I mean I am so <i>glad</i>,†+said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“You mean you are all tired out, and ought to +go to bed,†said her grandmother.</p> + +<p>“And if I am to come here to live,†said Robert’s +sweetheart, dimpling, “I may as well see how I +shall like putting a girl in her little bed.â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna, nearly as tall as the little lady, laughed +through her tears. She went over and kissed her +uncle good-night.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> + +<p>“I am sorry I was so silly,†she whispered. “I +was <i>so</i> lonely when I thought you were going away +that somehow when I found you were not, why, I +just couldn’t help myself.â€</p> + +<p>“I know how you felt. It is all right, sweetness,†+Uncle Robert whispered back. Rosanna’s +clasp tightened round his neck.</p> + +<p>“Uncle Robert, shall I—do you suppose—will +I be your sweetness just the same even after you +are married?â€</p> + +<p>Uncle Robert kissed her hard. “Before and +after, and forever and ever more!†he said. “Just +as soon as I get to be a sober married man, I shall +be your uncle and your daddy too, and you are +going to be the happiest little girl in the world.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, Uncle Robert!†was all Rosanna could +say, but her look thanked him and tears were very +near his own eyes as he watched the little orphaned +girl skipping off with her arm around the shoulders +of his future wife. But they were tears of +happiness.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you love this room, Captain?†asked Rosanna, +as she switched on the soft flood of light.</p> + +<p>“Indeed I do!†said Miss Hooker. “I expect +to spend a great deal of my time here. Between +us, Rosanna, we ought to be able to plan the most +wonderful things for our Scout troop. And next +summer Bob says he will find a place for us to +camp, and fit us out with tents and all that, so +we will not have to go to a boarding-house or hotel, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +but stay right in the open. Won’t that be splendid?â€</p> + +<p>“Think of it!†said Rosanna. “Won’t the girls +be wild when they hear about it? Oh, dear, I wish +I was eighteen so I could be a lieutenant!â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t wish you were eighteen,†said Miss +Hooker. “I like you just as you are.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, Miss Hooker, you are <i>so</i> sweet!†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker dimpled. “One thing we had better +settle right now,†she said. “What are you +going to call me?â€</p> + +<p>Rosanna looked blank. “I hadn’t thought about +that at all. Of course I can’t go on calling you +Miss Hooker, and then Mrs. Horton. And you are +too little and too young to be anybody’s aunt.â€</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker watched her with a smile.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to do about it then? I +want you to call me just what you like. You are +to choose.â€</p> + +<p>“Then I will tell you what,†said Rosanna +brightly. “I was reading the sweetest little story +the other day about a Spanish family, and they +called each other <i>Cita</i>. It means <i>dear</i>.â€</p> + +<p>“<i>Cita</i>,†repeated Miss Hooker. “Why, I think +that is just as sweet as it can be, and I should love +to have you call me that.â€</p> + +<p>“Then that is what you are, little Cita,†said +Rosanna with a kiss. And to her devoted household, +Cita she remains to this very day.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> + +<p>Cita and Uncle Robert did not seem able to agree +on a date for their wedding. Cita declared that it +would take at least six or eight months to get +what she mysteriously called her “things†together. +Uncle Robert declared with equal fervor +that she had everything she needed, and that they +were not going to go off and live on a desert isle +where there were no shops.</p> + +<p>Finally Uncle Robert had an inspiration. “I +tell you what let’s do,†he said after a long argument. +“Let’s leave this to an outsider: someone +with no special interest in the affair. And as a +business man, I will name the agent.â€</p> + +<p>“Very well,†said Cita. “See that you play +fair.â€</p> + +<p>“I name and nominate Miss Rosanna Horton, +and as her aids and assistants I name and nominate +Miss Helen Culver and Miss Elise Hargrave.â€</p> + +<p>“That is not playing fair at all!†cried Cita. +“You know perfectly well that they want us to be +married soon.â€</p> + +<p>Robert shook his head. “Not at all! Our marriage +is detrimental to those persons named, insomuch +as I shall take you off on a wedding trip, and +by so doing shall interfere with the routine of work +in your Scout troop. That is a good committee, +and I shall trust them. I shall now call them in.â€</p> + +<p>The three girls were working in the Scout room +on the tarleton stockings, filling and tying them. +Robert stepped to the door and summoned them. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +Putting the question before them in the most serious +manner, he told them that they were to decide.</p> + +<p>“I should think I ought to decide my <i>own</i> wedding +day!†cried Cita.</p> + +<p>“You don’t seem able to do it,†said Robert. +“You have been trying to decide for the last ten +days. You see it is a business proposition with +me. Perhaps if these good, kind young ladies succeed +in fixing a wedding day, say before Christmas, +I won’t have to buy you any Christmas +present.â€</p> + +<p>“I don’t <i>want</i> to be married before Christmas,†+wailed Cita, looking appealingly at the girls.</p> + +<p>Rosanna nodded her head understandingly, and +the three girls left the room.</p> + +<p>“When will we set it?†asked Helen. “Do they +really mean that we are to do so?â€</p> + +<p>“Tell him we have decided on the fifteenth of +February,†said Rosanna. “That is the date she +has fixed, but he is such a tease that she has been +teasing him in return. That will give her all the +time she needs, and she won’t be all tired out. +Everyone loves her, and wants to do things for her +and, besides, it is going to take weeks to get those +rooms fixed. I never saw grandmother so fussy +over anything before. She is going clear to New +York and is going to take Cita to select hangings, +and she has an artist friend selecting pictures; that +is, a list for Cita to look over. Grandmother wants +every last thing to be Cita’s own selection. And, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +girls, it is going to be <i>too</i> lovely. What do you +think? You know those ceilings are about twenty +feet high, and grandmother has had them all lowered +with plaster board and beams, so it looks so +much cozier. Grandmother is really splendid. I +never loved her so much.â€</p> + +<p>“Are you almost ready to report?†demanded +Uncle Robert at the door.</p> + +<p>“All ready!†said Helen as the committee went +skipping in.</p> + +<p>“Well, let’s hear the verdict,†said Uncle Robert. +“If this committee is as sensible as it looks, I expect +to hear them say that the date is set for next +week Tuesday.â€</p> + +<p>“The fifteenth of February,†said Rosanna +firmly.</p> + +<p>A look of relief spread over Cita’s face.</p> + +<p>“Wha-a-a-t?†said Uncle Robert. “Impossible! +Why, <i>I</i> named this committee and by all the rules +of politics you should have brought in the report +I want.â€</p> + +<p>“But it wouldn’t have been fair,†said Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“What has that to do with politics?†groaned +Uncle Robert. “All right! I have been done up; +sold out, and by my own constituents. The fifteenth +of February it is. But don’t you dare to +make it a day later, young ladies!†He rose.</p> + +<p>“Where are you going?†asked Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Where?†said Uncle Robert, with a twinkle +in his eye. “<i>You</i> ask me where? Well, I am +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +going to drag myself downtown to get that Christmas +present.â€</p> + +<p>“And now,†said Cita after he had gone, “now +don’t let’s think of weddings or anything else but +our Scout work. Things have been dragging lately, +and I think it is my fault. If we do not do better +and snappier work right away, I will know it is +my fault, and I shall give the troop over to someone +else. Engaged girls have no business trying to run +a troop.â€</p> + +<p>“Don’t say that, Cita,†said Rosanna. “We +have all been working so hard for Christmas that +I think we have no energy left.â€</p> + +<p>“Possibly,†said Cita, “but we must put things +pretty well in order at the next meeting, and before +then I want all these Christmas things marked +and in their proper baskets. That meeting, the +last before the holidays, will be an important one.â€</p> + +<p>“Then let us go to work merrilee,†said Elise, +picking up a stocking, and letting a gumdrop slide +down into the toe.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chXIV'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER XIV</p> +</div> + + +<p>After the usual formalities of a meeting, Captain +Hooker desired the girls’ full attention. She held +a formidable sheaf of notes in her hand, and it +looked to the Scouts as though there was going +to be a good deal of work parcelled out to them.</p> + +<p>“In the first place,†said their Captain, “I have +asked the approval of the National Headquarters, +and you are at liberty to send a Thanks badge to +Doctor Branshaw. Now you have not yet sent him +any formal thanks for what he did for Gwenny and +I wonder if any of you have an idea of some attractive +way of expressing your gratitude.â€</p> + +<p>“I thought of something, Captain,†said Lucy +Breen, “but perhaps it wouldn’t do.â€</p> + +<p>“Let us hear it,†said the Captain.</p> + +<p>“How would it be to write him, each of us, a +short letter of thanks, just a few words, and at the +top of each letter paste a snapshot of the girl who +has written it? Then bind them all in a sort of +cover or folder with our motto and a print of our +flower on the outside.â€</p> + +<p>“I think that is simply a splendid idea,†cried +the Captain. “Don’t you think so, girls?â€</p> + +<p>Of course everyone did, and it was settled that +Rosanna should go and buy the paper for the letters +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span> +so they should all be alike. As for the cover, Miss +Hooker, who was an artist of more than ordinary +talent and skill, offered to illuminate the cover +with the cornflower as the motif; and she decided +to illuminate it on parchment, with the deep blue +of the flowers and dull gold lettering. The girls +who had no snapshot of themselves promised to +have one taken at once. Before they finished, the +“Thanks Book†as they called it, promised to become +a beautiful and very attractive affair. Miss +Hooker warned them all to write natural and +simple letters.</p> + +<p>“How many of you have been over to see Gwenny +in her new home?†asked the Captain. “After +the holidays, I think it would be a very kind thing +for you to each give up an afternoon once in so +often (you can decide how often you can spare the +time), and go spend the afternoon with Gwenny. +Her mother feels that she should do a little work +now and that faithful little Mary is taking care +of a couple of children over here on Third Street +every afternoon, to earn her share of the household +expenses. So Gwenny is left very much alone.â€</p> + +<p>“My mother has been in the Norton Infirmary +for a month,†said one of the girls, “and she said +the nurse told her that it would mean a great deal +to some of these patients if we girls would only +come in once in awhile, and talk to some of the +patients who get so lonely. Mother said there was +a boy there with a broken hip, and he was always +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +going to be lame, and he grieved so about it all the +time that it kept him from getting well. And there +was another patient, a girl about my age, with +something wrong with her back. She is in a plaster +cast, and her only relative is a father who +travels, and he is in California.â€</p> + +<p>“Now there is an idea for you all,†said Miss +Hooker. “I want to talk all these things over +today, because if I am away at any time I want to +feel that I know just about what you are doing. +I should think that it would do a lot of good to +visit those poor young people. There is just one +thing to remember if you want to be popular with +the nurses and helpful to the patients: always stay +just a little <i>shorter</i> time than you are expected +to. Then the nurses feel that you are wise enough +to be trusted without tiring the patients, and the +patients are left with the desire to see you soon +again.â€</p> + +<p>“That is just what my mother said,†said the +girl who had spoken. “She says so many people +come who just stay and stay and if the nurse does +not get around in time to send them home, why, +they have the patient in a fever.â€</p> + +<p>“Perfectly true,†said Miss Hooker. “Make +your visits short—and often. Next,†said the +Captain, “I want to tell you that Lucy Breen has +passed the examinations successfully in two subjects. +She is now entitled to wear the merit badge +for Horsemanship and Clerk.â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> + +<p>All the girls clapped.</p> + +<p>“<i>Bon bon</i>, dear Lucee!†whispered Elise.</p> + +<p>Lucy smiled back at the dear girl who had befriended +her at a moment when she needed a friend +so badly.</p> + +<p>“I want to ask how many of you girls are taking +regular exercises every morning?†asked Captain +Hooker. “It does not seem as though you had as +good color as you should have. I want my girls to +be the finest looking troop at the great meeting +in the spring. It is to be in Washington; did I +tell you? And I want every one of you to go. Now, +there is an incentive to work. The rally is in June +just after school is over, and I want you to earn +the money for your railroad tickets. Of course we +will all get special rates, and it will not cost us +anything after we arrive there, as we will be the +guests of the Washington Scouts, or some of the +women’s organizations. But you should all of you +be able to earn ten dollars before that time. It +will take that much, but no more. If any of you +girls belong to families who could send you, you +are at liberty to help some other girl who is less +fortunate, but you must each one of you earn the +sum I have mentioned.â€</p> + +<p>“What if we earn more?†asked Lucy Breen.</p> + +<p>“I am sure you will be glad to have a little spending +money when you get to Washington,†said Miss +Hooker.</p> + +<p>“Some of us will earn more and some less,†said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +Helen. “After we earn the ten dollars, why +couldn’t we put everything else we earn in your +hands, and then it could be evenly divided at the +end, and we would each have the same amount to +spend, and when we come home we can each tell +what we spent it for.â€</p> + +<p>“Splendid!†exclaimed Miss Hooker. “What +do you girls think of that? I think it would be +quite a test of your ability to get a good deal of +pleasure or profit out of a stated amount.â€</p> + +<p>Again everybody clapped, and with a little more +discussion the subject was left settled.</p> + +<p>One of the Webster girls raised a hand.</p> + +<p>“What would you suggest that we could do to +earn money?†she said. “All we can do is dance, +and mamma won’t let us dance in public until we +are grown up. We don’t know how to do anything +else.â€</p> + +<p>“Marian, I get awfully cross with you sometimes,†+laughed Miss Hooker. “What are those +two merit badges on your sleeve?â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, <i>those</i>!†said Marian in a helpless voice. +“The gridiron for Cooking and the palm leaf for +Invalid Cooking. But I can’t go out and cook.â€</p> + +<p>“What can you make best?†asked Miss Hooker.</p> + +<p>Another girl spoke up. “She makes the loveliest +jellies you ever tasted and they always stand +right up, never slump over at all.â€</p> + +<p>“And you, Evelyn Webster, what is that on your +sleeve?â€</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> + +<p>“The palette,†said Evelyn.</p> + +<p>“There you are!†said Miss Hooker. “What +is the good of earning these badges if you are never +going to make use of the things they stand for?†+She picked up the Girl Scouts Hand Book that was +lying on her lap, and turning over the pages said, +“Listen to this:</p> + +<p>“Employment.</p> + +<p>“‘Stick to it,’ the thrush sings. One of the +worst weaknesses of many people is that they do +not have the perseverance to stick to what they have +to do. They are always wanting to change. Whatever +you do, take up with all your might and stick +to it. Besides the professions of nursing, teaching, +stenography and typewriting and clerking, there +are many less crowded employments, such as hairdressing, +making flowers, coloring photographs, +and assisting dentists, and gardening. There are +many occupations for women, but before any new +employment can be taken up, one must begin while +young to make plans and begin collecting information. +‘Luck is like a street car, the only way to +get it, is to look out for every chance and seize it—run +at it, and jump on; don’t sit down and wait +for it to pass. Opportunity is a street car which +has few stopping places.’</p> + +<p>“Now there you are, Marian and Evelyn, with +your jelly and your beautiful lettering. Make +some of that jelly, and put it in the prettiest glasses +you can find, and tie the tops on with a little ribbon +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +from the five-and-ten-cent store, and illuminate +some sample cards for window displays, and take +them down to the Women’s Exchange. You, +Evelyn, take your cards to the manager of one of +the big stores, and ask him if he could use such +work. He will probably want a thousand of them. +I am glad this came up. If you are all as helpless +as Evelyn and Marian when it comes to using your +knowledge, why, there is really not much use in +earning merit badges.</p> + +<p>“I think we will talk this over for ten minutes +informally, and then we will call the roll, and see +what each one thinks she can do.â€</p> + +<p>The Captain turned to the Lieutenant and commenced +to talk to her in a low tone, and for ten +minutes the room buzzed. Then at the sharp command +of the Lieutenant’s whistle silence fell, and +the roll was called, and each girl’s chosen task was +jotted down beside her name. The outlook was +rather black for some of the girls who had chosen +to try for merits in unusual rather than in available +subjects. For instance, one girl wore badges +for proficiency in Swimming, Signaling, Pioneer, +Pathfinder, and Marksmanship.</p> + +<p>None of these seemed to offer an opening for +moneymaking, especially during the winter months. +But she was plucky, and merely said that she would +find a way to earn the money. And she did it by +going to the Y. W. C. A. and assisting the swimming +mistress for a couple of hours every +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +afternoon. So well did she do that when the money +was turned in, she had twenty-five dollars to put +in the general fund for spending money.</p> + +<p>Another girl had a merit badge for Aviation, +but she went to work in her workshop and built box +kites that no boy could resist, and sold them by the +dozen.</p> + +<p>As Miss Hooker told them, the trick was to make +use of what they had learned. Of course a good +deal of this worked itself out later, but when they +had finished their discussion, and Miss Hooker +had urged them to get to work as soon as they +possibly could, she changed the subject by saying, +with just a little hesitation:</p> + +<p>“I wonder how many of you know that I am to be +married?â€</p> + +<p>Every hand rose and a voice said, “But we don’t +know when.â€</p> + +<p>“That is what I want to talk to you about,†+smiled Miss Hooker. “We are going to be married +on the fifteenth of February, and I shall not +have bridesmaids and all that girls usually have; +I want my own Scout girls as attendants—all +of you. Will you all come?â€</p> + +<p>There was a series of exclamations of “Oh, Miss +Hooker!†and “Indeed we will!â€</p> + +<p>“Thank you!†said Miss Hooker, quite as though +she was asking a favor instead of conferring one. +“Then I will depend on all of you, and a little later +I will tell you the plan I have for the wedding. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +Of course you are to arrange to attend the reception +afterwards, and we will have automobiles to +take you all home.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, thank you, thank you!†chorused the girls.</p> + +<p>Miss Hooker found that after her invitation it +was impossible to interest the girls in anything in +the nature of routine work, so she soon dismissed +the meeting, and the girls as usual piling into the +automobiles belonging to Rosanna and Elise and +Lucy and one or two others, were driven home in +a great state of excitement.</p> + +<p>A Girl Scout wedding! That was what it +amounted to. Miss Hooker,—their dear Captain, +thought so much of them that she had chosen them +to attend her rather than her own friends. It was +thrilling in the extreme.</p> + +<p>It struck about twenty of them about the same +time later, that there had been nothing said about +clothes. This was an awful thought. Rosanna +seemed likely to know more than any of the others, +on account of the distinction of having Miss Hooker +marry her uncle, so the twenty anxious maidens +rushed to as many telephones and gave central a +very bad time for about an hour, saying “Line’s +busy,†while Rosanna talked to each one as she +secured a clear line, and assured her that she knew +nothing at all about it.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +<div class='chapter'> +<a id='chXV'></a> +<p class='cln0'>CHAPTER XV</p> +</div> + + +<p>The fifteenth of February sparkled all day long. +Not half of the Scouts were able to sleep, and they +saw the round bright sun bounce out of the east +and start blazing up in a cloudless sky. All day +it was the same. Not a cloud in the sky, not a +shadow on the earth. Automobile horns seemed +to take on a joyous toot. The heavy “ding, dong, +ding, dong,†of the locomotive bell as it crossed +Third Street lost its mournful tone and sounded +sweetly solemn like a wedding bell.</p> + +<p>All day relays of restless Scouts belonging to +Captain Hooker’s troop drifted in at the open door +of the beautiful old cathedral and watched the +silent workmen setting the palms and flowers under +the direction of a bevy of young ladies who were +Miss Hooker’s schoolmates and life-long friends. +They had claimed the right to decorate the church +since they were not included in the wedding other +than as spectators.</p> + +<p>On twenty-four beds twenty-four Girl Scout uniforms +in a terrifying condition of starch and cleanliness +lay stiffly out, with hats and staffs beside +them. And at about three in the afternoon twenty-four +Girl Scouts lay down on other beds, so they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +would be “fresh†for the wedding. All the shades +were pulled down, but not one of the twenty-four +managed to get to sleep. It was awful! Actually +painful! Each one lay wondering what the others +were doing, and what Miss Hooker was doing. +Wondered what she would wear, wondered if she +was frightened. The two Websters had refused to +rest in separate rooms, so they talked in a cautious +undertone, while their mother in the next room +pressed imaginary creases out of their tunics. +The whole troop had beautiful new hair ribbons +from Miss Hooker and from Mr. Horton a beautiful +gold bangle bracelet. A messenger boy had delivered +them all around just at noon, and while +they rested twenty-four left arms were held up to +catch the light on the gleaming band. The idea +of anyone sleeping!</p> + +<p>At six o’clock sharp the Lieutenant, Miss Jamieson, +hurried up the steps of the Hargrave house +where the girls were to meet, and ten minutes later +three patrols marched nervously along and turned +in. Then for endless ages, too nervous to talk, they +sat waiting for the automobiles that were to carry +them to the old cathedral. They were torn with +fears. What if Mr. Horton and his best man, Doctor +MacLaren, had forgotten to order the cars at +all? What if they should be late, and the wedding +go on without them? The voice of Mrs. Hargrave’s +house boy announcing “De cahs is heah, ma’am,†+sounded like music.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> + +<p>The cathedral, down in the oldest part of the city, +seemed a million miles away, and the cars crawled. +Not a traffic policeman but stopped them as they +approached—but at last they arrived and entered +the church. How beautiful it was, softly yet brilliantly +lighted through its high arches. White +satin with heavy gold embroideries draping altar +and desk, tall candles burning at either side of the +Cross. And somewhere softly, thrillingly out of +space, spoke the most entrancing music.</p> + +<p>People went down the aisles in gaily clad groups, +the delicate perfumes of the flowers worn by beautiful +women wafting to the girls as they passed. +Mrs. Breen’s two brothers and the brothers of the +two Girl Scouts who had helped at the benefit +were all acting as ushers and they were certainly +busy.</p> + +<p>Standing just inside the door, the girls were +aware of a little stir, and a group entered, walking +more slowly and carefully than the others. Even +the girls were surprised as they stared. For first +of all came Gwenny, Gwenny leaning heavily on +the arm of the kindly sign painter, but Gwenny was +<i>walking</i>!</p> + +<p>Behind, looking very shiny and quite agonized, +followed Mary and Tommy and little Myron firmly +clutching the still littler Luella, who looked on +the verge of tears. After them, to close all avenue +of escape, walked Mrs. Harter, and Minnie and +Tom. Very slowly, in Gwenny’s halting footsteps, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +they went down the aisle—down and down until +they came to the satin ribbon that fenced off a +portion of the seats for Miss Hooker’s most particular +friends. And even then they did not stop, for +Doctor MacLaren, who was with them, led them +to the fourth seat from the front. It had evidently +been saved for them, for in the corner next the +aisle was a big pillow for Gwenny’s back. Cita’s +girl friends kept drifting in, lovely, colorful creatures +in dancing frocks, and the girls reflected with +joy that they too were asked to the reception afterwards.</p> + +<p>Then came the group of the bride’s relatives, and +close behind, Mrs. Horton, walking with her hand +on the arm of the older Breen boy, and looking +like a queen in her pale gray satin robe, brocaded +with silver.</p> + +<p>And then the Lieutenant, who had been standing +outside all this time, returned, looking quite pale, +and gave an order in a tone so low that half of the +girls did not hear at all, but they were so keyed +up that they knew just what to do and formed a +double line facing the chancel.</p> + +<p>The music burst suddenly, joyously into the Wedding +March, and the girls started slowly down the +broad aisle, keeping step to the music. So smoothly +and so quickly had it been done that they had not +had a glimpse of the bride, who was following +them on her father’s arm, with Rosanna all in +white before her as maid of honor.</p> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> + +<p>Down the aisle, straight and trim, marched the +Guard of Honor. When the first two girls reached +the foot of the chancel steps, they stopped and +turned to face each other, taking two steps backward. +As the line all formed, the staffs were raised +until the tips met, and under this arch, all misty +tulle and gleaming satin, her cheeks faintly flushed, +her lips softly smiling, passed their little Captain. +Mr. Robert who had been waiting just beyond came +forward and took her hand, and the Dean stepped +down to meet them, while the Bishop waited before +the altar.</p> + +<p>The music muted. And in the place of the march +came faint sighs of melody. Then in a pause of the +ceremony, from somewhere silvery chimes rang out. +The little bride stood motionless, her tulle train +seeming to melt into the whiteness of the marble +on which she stood.</p> + +<p>And then, almost at once it seemed, it was all +over. The little Captain had made her new vows, +the ring was on her hand, the blessing on her bowed +head. Quite solemnly Mr. Robert kissed her, then +the organ broke out with a burst that filled the +great church, and fairly beat down the rising +throngs, as the married couple, passing under the +crossed staves, passed down the aisle and out into +their new life.</p> + +<p>The Guard of Honor, in their automobiles once +more and whirling after the bridal car to the reception, +found their tongues and all talked at once. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +No one listened; no one cared. They went through +a canopied, carpeted tunnel across the sidewalk +to the house, and there were firmly handled by a +bevy of colored maids who took their staffs and +hats and sent them forth with nothing to do with +their hands. But Mr. Robert shook all the hands +they had, and the little Captain kissed them each +and every one. And then she asked them to form +just back of her until she had greeted all the guests. +This took a long time, but was such fun, because +they saw everyone and all the dresses, and everything.</p> + +<p>But finally the line thinned out, the congratulations +were over, and the little Captain, taking her +filmy train over her arm, drifted out among the +guests and the girls broke up into groups. A little +later Rosanna came hurrying around to tell the +girls to come to the library. They found the Captain +and her husband there, talking to a chubby, +smiling, altogether kindly and delightful little +gentleman, who stared beamingly at them through +immense horn-rimmed spectacles.</p> + +<p>“I want to present you to Doctor Branshaw, +girls,†said Mrs. Horton. “He came all the way +from Cincinnati to attend our wedding and to meet +you.â€</p> + +<p>The girls stepped up one by one to be presented +to the great man.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t see any other way of meeting you all,†+he said. “My time is always so broken, and they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +keep me so busy down there that I actually didn’t +have time to write and tell you how greatly I appreciated +that book you sent me. I think it was quite +the nicest thing in the world. I shall always keep +it.â€</p> + +<p>“It was poor thanks for what you did for +Gwenny,†said Miss Jamieson, finding that someone +had to answer.</p> + +<p>“I was glad to do it,†said the Doctor, “after +you had led the way. It is an honor to work with +the Girl Scouts. When you are twice as old, yes, +three times as old as you are now, you will realize +what a wonderful work you are doing in the world. +I come across evidences of it every day. This +Gwenny, for instance. Did you see the way she +went down that long aisle tonight? Why, that girl +is going to be well, perfectly well! Think of the +years of pain and misery you have saved her, the +agonizing nights and the untimely death. Whose +plan was it, anyway?â€</p> + +<p>“Rosanna Horton’s,†said half a dozen voices.</p> + +<p>Rosanna flushed. “No, don’t say that!†she objected. +“It is just as the doctor says. If I +thought of it it was because I am a Scout. Call +it the Girl Scouts’ Plan.â€</p> + +<p>“Yours or theirs, Miss Rosanna; it was a divine +thought and should make you all happy. You have +given the three greatest boons to a fellow creature: life, +health, and happiness, and all because your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +splendid order teaches you to watch for just such +opportunities. Now I will give you an opportunity +to do a good deed tonight,†and he laughed the +jolliest laugh. “There are a couple of very wise +gentlemen here tonight, who would like to talk to +me, and they would want to talk about operations +and anesthetics and all those things that I left +locked up in my office at home. But I can’t tell +them that, so I wish you could just look after me +for the next hour, and sort of beau me around, you +know, and if you see any bald heads or spectacles +bearing down on us, just close in and protect me.â€</p> + +<p>“Oh, we will!†chorused the girls, greatly +pleased.</p> + +<p>So the great Dr. Branshaw, quite the greatest +and most eminent man present, passed happily +from room to room surrounded and tagged by a +chatting, smiling throng of uniformed girls.</p> + +<p>When a cheering looking line of waiters appeared +with plates and napkins, the great man and his +little court settled in a cozy nook and proceeded +to fly in the face of all the best health experts. +And to see the Doctor shamelessly send for more +bouillon, and consume sandwiches, and sliced turkey, +and candied sweet potato and salad, and oh, +dear, all <i>sorts</i> of things, was enough to make any +Scout hungry, and they just feasted and feasted.</p> + +<p>Although the doctor refused to talk to the wise +men, he did talk to the girls, getting on the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +subject dearest to him, as all professional men will, +and telling them many an amusing story and pathetic +incident.</p> + +<p>Finally he rose. “I must go, girls,†he said. +“I said good-bye to Mrs. Horton when I came in, so +I could just slip out a little side door there is here.â€</p> + +<p>He shook hands all around and patted each +straight shoulder. “Don’t forget me,†he said, +“and remember if there is anything I can do to +help, we are all working together. See this?†He +smiled and pulled aside his coat. There on his +waistcoat was the Thanks Badge they had sent him. +“I always wear it,†he said, and with a merry good-bye +hurried through the little door, and was gone.</p> + +<p>Rosanna went to the hall and looked out.</p> + +<p>“Hurry, hurry!†she called. “Here she comes! +We nearly missed her!â€</p> + +<p>The bride, in her travelling dress, was coming +down the stairs. She paused on the landing and +looked down at the sea of smiling faces below. +Then suddenly she tossed her bouquet out. A +dozen hands reached for it, and the girl who caught +it danced up and down. Everyone laughed.</p> + +<p>“What did she do that for?†asked one of the +Websters.</p> + +<p>“The one who catches the bride’s bouquet,†said +Miss Jamieson, “will be the next one married.â€</p> + +<p>“Quick!†cried Elise. “Let us all form the +guard-line for her. Never mind those staves!â€</p> + +<p>Slipping through the throng and out the door, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +girls formed a double line to the automobile waiting +at the curb. A great white bow was tied on +the back, and Rosanna quickly took it off and hid it.</p> + +<p>“Cita wouldn’t like that,†she explained. Then +she stood with her hand on the door. The house +door opened and in a blaze of light, confetti and +rice showering about her, rose leaves floating above +her, the little bride and her tall young husband +ran down the steps and through the double line +of Scouts, who closed solidly before the door of +the limousine as she entered it. The other guests +were shut out. For that moment she was again +their little Captain and belonged to them alone. +Forming in a solid group, they suddenly shouted +the Girl Scout yell, threw her a shower of kisses, +and crying good-bye over and over, watched her +little hand wave a farewell as the car sprang forward.</p> + +<hr style="border:none;border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:50%; margin: 1em auto"/> + +<p>Helen and Elise were Rosanna’s guests for the +night. A couch had been prepared so the three +girls could sleep in the same room. They rolled +themselves up in bathrobes, and sat on the edge +of the couch just as they had sat on the top step +so many months ago, only this time Elise did not +knit. She too sat with her chin in her hands, staring +out of the window. Rosanna had snapped off +the light. A million stars in a deep frosty sky +looked down on them. The night sparkled. It was +very, very late, but Mrs. Horton with surpassing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span> +wisdom had not asked them to go right to bed. +She too was awake, dreaming long dreams.</p> + +<p>Presently Elise spoke. “So much of happiness +makes me sad,†she said.</p> + +<p>“Well, it is all over,†sighed Rosanna.</p> + +<p>“Not at all!†cried Elise. “What could be +over? Not Meeses Horton, who is just beginning. +Not us, who have so many, many works to do. Not +Gwenny who steps into a new life. Just see all +those stars. They shine and sparkle always, no +matter what goes on down here.â€</p> + +<p>“You sound like a little sermon, Elise dear,†+said Helen, smiling.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know just yet what it is you call sermon, +but I hope it is nice,†replied Elise.</p> + +<p>“Yours is, anyway,†said Rosanna, kissing the +fair face beside her.</p> + +<p>“All I meant was that this is over, the wedding +and all that. Oh, of course I didn’t mean that +<i>everything</i> was over. It is just as though a beautiful +day had ended, as it has,†Rosanna continued. +“Others will come, many, many other busy, beautiful +days, and on my honor, I will try to do my duty +to God and my country, to help other people at +all times and to obey the Scout laws,†said Rosanna +softly, lifting her eyes to the eternal stars.</p> + +<p style="text-align:center;">THE END</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Scouts Rally, by Katherine Keene Galt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY *** + +***** This file should be named 38152-h.htm or 38152-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/5/38152/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl Scouts Rally + Rosanna Wins + +Author: Katherine Keene Galt + +Release Date: November 27, 2011 [EBook #38152] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + + + + + +[Illustration: "So you want me to come to your show, do you?" said Mr. +Harriman.] + + + + +_Girl Scouts Series, Volume 2_ + +THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY + +or + +ROSANNA WINS + +BY + +Katherine Keene Galt + +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + +CHICAGO--AKRON, OHIO--NEW YORK + +MADE IN U. S. A. + + + + +Copyright, 1921, by + +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + +THE GIRL SCOUTS SERIES + 1 THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME + 2 THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY + 3 THE GIRL SCOUT'S TRIUMPH + + + + +THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Three little girls sat in a row on the top step of a beautiful home in +Louisville. At the right was a dark-haired, fairylike child on whose +docked hair a velvet beret, or French officer's cap, sat jauntily. Her +dark eyes were round and thoughtful as she gazed into space. There was a +little wrinkle between her curved black brows. + +Beside her, busily knitting on a long red scarf, sat a sparkling little +girl whose hazel eyes danced under a fringe of blond curls. Her dainty +motions and her pretty way of tossing back her beautiful hair caused +people to stop and look at her as they passed, but Elise was all +unconscious of their admiration. Indeed, she was almost too shy, and few +knew how full of fun and laughter she could be. + +The third girl wore a businesslike beaver hat over her blond docked +hair, and her great eyes, blue and steady, were levelled across Elise, +who knitted on in silence, to the dark girl in the velvet cap. + +Helen Culver spoke at last. "Well, Rosanna, what are you thinking? Have +you any plan at all?" + +The dark child spoke. "No, Helen, I can't think of a thing. It makes me +_so_ provoked!" + +"Tell me, will you not?" asked Elise in her pretty broken English. She +was trying so hard to speak like Rosanna and Helen that she could +scarcely be prevailed upon to say anything in French. + +Many months had passed since Elise, in the care of the kind ladies of +the American Red Cross, had come over from France to her adopted +guardian, young Mr. Horton. She had grown to be quite American during +that time, and was very proud of her attainments. The dark and dreadful +past was indeed far behind, and while she sometimes wept for her dear +grandmother, who had died in Mr. Horton's tender arms in the old chateau +at home, she loved her foster mother, Mrs. Hargrave, with all her heart. +And with Elise laughing and dancing through it, the great old Hargrave +house was changed indeed. While Elise was crossing the ocean, Mrs. +Hargrave had fitted up three rooms for her. There was a sitting-room, +that was like the sunny outdoors, with its dainty flowered chintzes, its +ivory wicker furniture, its plants and canaries singing in wicker cages. +Then there was a bedroom that simply put you to sleep just to look at +it: all blue and silver, like a summer evening. Nothing sang here, but +there was a big music box, old as Mrs. Hargrave herself, that tinkled +Elise to sleep if she so wished. And the bathroom was papered so that +you didn't look at uninteresting tiles set like blocks when you splashed +around in the tub. No; there seemed to be miles and miles of sunny +sea-beach with little shells lying on the wet sand and sea gulls +swinging overhead. + +Mrs. Hargrave was so delighted with all this when it was finished that +it made her discontented with her own sitting-room with its dim old +hangings and walnut furniture. + +"No wonder I was beginning to grow old," she said to her life-long +friend, Mrs. Horton. "No wonder at all! All this dismal old stuff is +going up in the attic. I shall bring down my great great-grandmother's +mahogany and have all my wicker furniture cushioned with parrots and +roses." + +"It sounds dreadful," said Mrs. Horton. + +"It won't be," retorted her friend. "It will be perfectly lovely. Did +you know that I can play the piano? I can, and well. I had forgotten it. +I am going to have birds too--not canaries, but four cunning little +green love-birds. They are going to have all that bay window for +themselves. And I shall have a quarter grand piano put right there." + +"I do think you are foolish," said Mrs. Horton, who was a cautious +person. "What if this child turns out to be a failure? All you have is +my son's word for it, and what does a boy twenty-four years old know +about little girls? You ought to wait and see what sort of a child she +is." + +"I have faith, my dear," said her friend. "I have been so lonely for so +many long years that I feel sure that at last the good Lord is going to +send me a real little daughter." + +"Cross-eyed perhaps and with a frightful disposition," said Mrs. Horton. +"All children look like angels to Robert." + +Mrs. Hargrave was plucky. "Very well, then; I can afford to have her +eyes straightened, and I will see what I can do about the temper." + +"I won't tease you any more," said Mrs. Horton. "Robert says the child +is charming and good as gold. I know you will be happy with her, and if +you find that she is too much of a care for you, you can simply throw +her right back on Robert's hands. I don't like to have him feel that he +has no responsibility in the matter." + +Elise proved to be all that Mrs. Hargrave had dreamed, and more. She +sang like a bird and Mrs. Hargrave found her old skill returning as she +played accompaniments or taught Elise to play on the pretty piano. And +the little girl, who was perfectly happy, repaid her over and over in +love and a thousand sweet and pretty attentions. Dear Mrs. Hargrave, who +had been so lonely that she had not cared particularly whether she lived +or died, found herself wishing for many years of life. + +The three little girls, Elise, Rosanna, of whom you have perhaps read, +and her friend Helen Culver were great friends. + +They went to school and studied and played together, and Rosanna and +Helen were both Girl Scouts. Elise was to join too, as soon as she could +qualify. At present, as Uncle Robert said slangily, she was "stuck on +pie." She could not make a crust that could be cut or even _sawed_ apart +although she tried to do so with all the earnestness in the world. + +Perhaps you girls who are reading this remember Rosanna. If so, you will +be glad to know that she grew well and strong again after her accident +and continued to be a very happy little girl who was devoted to her +grandmother, who in turn was devoted to Rosanna. The beautiful hair that +Rosanna had cut off was allowed to stay docked, and that was a great +relief to Rosanna, who was always worried by the weight of the long +curls that hung over her shoulders like a dark glistening cape. It +seemed _such_ fun to be able to shake her head like a pony and send the +short, thick mane flying now that it was cut off. + +There were three people in Rosanna's home: her stately grandmother Mrs. +Horton, Uncle Robert, of whom you have heard, and Rosanna herself. +Rosanna had had a maid, of whom she was very fond, but Minnie was at +home preparing to marry the young man to whom she had been engaged all +through the war. He was at home again, and together they were fitting +out a cunning little bungalow in the Highlands. As soon as everything +was arranged quite to their satisfaction, they were going to be married, +and Minnie vowed that she could never get married unless she could have +a real wedding with bridesmaids and all, and she had a scheme! By the +way she rolled her eyes and her young man chuckled, it seemed as though +it must be a very wonderful scheme indeed, but although all three girls +hung around her neck and teased, not another word would she say. Minnie +had two little sisters who were about the ages of Rosanna and Elise and +Helen, but they did not know what the scheme was either. It was _very_ +trying. + +Helen Culver no longer lived over Mrs. Horton's garage and her father no +longer drove the Horton cars, but her home was very near in a dear +little apartment as sweet and clean and dainty as it could be. Mr. +Culver and Uncle Robert were often together and did a good deal of +figuring and drawing but other than guessing that it was something to do +with Uncle Robert's business, the children did not trouble their heads. + +Helen was ahead of Rosanna in school. She had had a better chance to +start with, as Rosanna had only had private teachers and so had had no +reason to strive to forge ahead. There had been no one to get ahead +_of_! Now, however, she was studying to such good purpose that she hoped +soon to overtake Helen. But it was a hard task, because Helen was a very +bright little girl who could and would and _did_ put her best effort in +everything she did. + +These, then, were the three little girls who sat on Rosanna's doorstep +and smelled the burning leaves and enjoyed the beautiful fall day. + +"Rosanna is so good at making plans," said Helen, smiling over at her +friend. + +"What shall your good plan be for?" asked Elise. + +"Don't you remember, Elise, our telling you about the picnic we had +once, and the children who took supper with us?" + +"Oh, _oui_--yess, yess!" said Elise, correcting herself hastily. + +"And we told you how we took them home and saw poor Gwenny, their +sister, who is so lame that she cannot walk at all, and is so good and +patient about it? We mean to take you over to see her, now that you can +speak English so nicely. She wants to see you so much." + +"I would be charm to go," declared Elise, nodding her curly head. + +"Well," continued Rosanna, "Gwenny's mother says that Gwenny could be +cured, but that it would cost more than she could ever pay, and it is +nothing that she could get done at the free dispensaries. Those are +places where very, very poor people can go and get good doctors and +nurses and advice without paying anything at all, but Gwenny could not +go there. + +"She would have to go to a big hospital in Cincinnati and stay for a +long while. I thought about asking my grandmother if she would like to +send Gwenny there, but just as I was going to speak of it last night, +she commenced to talk to Uncle Robert about money, and I heard her tell +him that she was never so hard up in her life, and what with the Liberty +Loan drives taking all her surplus out of the banks, and the high rate +of taxes, she didn't know what she was going to do. So I couldn't say a +thing." + +"The same with ma maman," said Elise. "She calls those same taxes +robbers. So you make the plan?" + +"That's just it: I _don't_," said Rosanna ruefully. "I wish I could +think up some way to earn money, a lot of it ourselves." + +"Let's do it!" said Helen in her brisk, decided way. + +"But _how_?" questioned Rosanna. "It will take such a lot of money, +Helen. Hundreds and hundreds of dollars, maybe _thousands_." + +"I should think the thing to do would be to ask a doctor exactly how +much it would cost, first of all," said the practical Helen. + +"Another thing," said Rosanna, "Gwenny's family is very proud. They +don't like to feel that people are taking care of them. The Associated +Charities gave Gwenny a chair once, so she could wheel herself around, +but it made them feel badly, although Gwenny's mother said she knew that +it was the right thing to accept it." + +"She will feel that it is the thing to do if we can pay to have Gwenny +cured too," said Helen. "You know how sensible she is, Rosanna. She must +realize that everybody knows that she does all she can in this world for +her family. I heard mother say she never saw any woman work so hard to +keep a home for her children. + +"Mother says she never rests. And she is not trained, you know, to do +special work like typewriting, or anything that is well paid, so she has +to be a practical nurse and things like that." + +"Aren't all nurses practical?" asked Rosanna, a frown of perplexity on +her brow. + +"Trained nurses are not," replied Helen. "Trained nurses get thirty and +forty dollars a week and a practical nurse gets seven or eight, and +works harder. But you see she never had a chance to get trained. It +takes a long time, like going to school and graduating, only you go to +the hospital instead." + +"I know," said Rosanna. "There were what they called undergraduate +nurses at the Norton Infirmary and they wore a different uniform. But +they were all pretty, and so good to me." + +"Well, you can't do much on what Gwenny's mother makes," said Helen. + +Elise sighed. "It is so sad," she declared. "Do the robber Taxes attack +her also?" + +"No; she has nothing to attack," laughed Helen. + +"Is Mees Gwenny a Girl Scout?" asked Elise. + +"No, but her sister Mary is. She went in about the time Rosanna joined, +but she does not belong to our group. They live in another part of the +city." + +"Will my allowance help?" asked Elise. "I will give it so gladly. Ma +maman is so good, so generous! I never can spend the half. I save it to +help a little French child, but surely if Mees Gwenny is your dear +friend and she suffers----" + +"She suffers all right," declared Helen. "Oh, Rosanna, we have _got_ to +think up some way to help her! I am going to ask mother." + +"Helen, do you remember what our Captain said at the very last meeting? +No, you were not there; I remember now. She said that we must learn to +act for ourselves and not forever be asking help from our families. She +said that we should always consult them before we made any important +move, but she wanted us to learn to use our own brains. Now it does look +to me as though this was a time to use all the brains we have. Think how +wonderful it would be if we could only do this ourselves!" + +"What do you mean by _we_? Just us three, or the Girl Scouts in our +group?" asked Helen. + +"I don't know," said Rosanna dismally. "I really haven't the first idea! +Let's all think." + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Three in a row, they sat and thought while the leaf piles smouldered and +the afternoon went by. Plan after plan was offered and discussed and +cast aside. At last Elise glanced at her little silver wrist watch, and +wound up her scarf. + +"Time for maman to come home," she said. "She likes it when I meet her +at the door with my love, and myself likes it too." + +"Of course you do, you dear!" said Helen. "Good-bye! We will keep on +thinking and perhaps tomorrow we will be able to get hold of some plan +that will be worth acting on. I must go too, Rosanna." + +"I will walk around the block with you," said Rosanna, rising and +calling a gay good-bye after Elise. She went with Helen almost to the +door of her apartment and then returned very slowly. How she did long to +help Gwenny! There must be some way. Poor patient, uncomplaining Gwenny! +Rosanna could not think of her at all without an ache in her heart. She +was so thin and her young face had so many, _many_ lines of pain. + +She was so thoughtful at dinner time that her Uncle Robert teased her +about it. He wanted to know if she had robbed a bank or had decided to +run off and get married and so many silly things that his mother told +him to leave Rosanna alone. Rosanna smiled and simply went on thinking. +After dinner she slipped away and went up to her own sitting-room. Then +Uncle Robert commenced to worry in earnest. He had his hat in his hand +ready to go over and see Mr. Culver, but he put it down again and went +up to Rosanna's room, three steps at a time. + +Rosanna called "Come," in answer to his knock in quite her usual tone of +voice, and Uncle Robert heaved a sigh of relief. + +He stuck his head in the door, and said in a meek tone: "I thought I +would come up to call on you, Princess. Mother is expecting a bridge +party, and it is no place for me." + +"That is what I thought," said Rosanna. "Besides I wanted to think." + +"Well, I am known as a hard thinker myself," said Uncle Robert. "If you +will invite the part of me that is out here in the hall to follow my +head, I will be glad to help you if I can." + +"I don't see why I shouldn't tell you about things anyway," mused +Rosanna. "You are not a parent, are you?" + +"No, ma'am, I am _not_," said Uncle Robert. "Nary a parent! Why?" + +He came in without a further invitation and sat down in Rosanna's +biggest chair. At that it squeaked in an alarming manner, and Uncle +Robert made remarks about furniture that wouldn't hold up a growing boy +like himself. When he appeared to be all settled and comfortable, and +Rosanna had shoved an ash tray over in a manner that Uncle Robert said +made him feel like an old married man, he said, "Now fire ahead!" and +Rosanna did. + +She told him all about Gwenny and her family--her mother and Mary and +selfish Tommy, and good little Myron, and Luella and the heavy baby, and +the story was so well told that Uncle Robert had hard work holding +himself down. He felt as though the check book in his pocket was all +full of prickers which were sticking into him, and in another pocket a +bank book with a big, big deposit, put in it that very day, kept +shouting, "Take care of Gwenny yourself!" so loudly that he was sure +Rosanna must hear. + +But Uncle Robert knew that that was not the thing for him to do. He +could not take all the beauty and generosity out of their effort when +their dear little hearts were so eagerly trying to find a way to help. + +He hushed the bank book up as best he could and said to Rosanna, "I +don't worry a minute about this thing, Rosanna. I know perfectly well +that you will think up some wonderful plan that will bring you wads of +money, and as long as I am _not_ a parent, I don't see why I can't be +your councillor. There might be things that I could attend to. I could +take the tickets at the door or something like that." + +"Tickets!" said Rosanna, quite horrified. "Why, Uncle Bob, we can't give +a _show_!" + +"I don't see why not, if you know what you want to show," answered Uncle +Robert. "You see benefit performances given all the time for singers and +pianists and actors who want to retire with a good income. Some of them +have one every year, but you couldn't do that for Gwenny. However I'll +stand by whenever you want me, you may feel sure of that, and if I can +advance anything in the way of a little money--" he tapped the bank +book, which jumped with joy. + +"Oh, thank you!" said Rosanna. "We will be sure to tell you as soon as +we can hit on a plan, and we will have you to go to for advice, and that +will be such a help!" + +After Uncle Bob had taken himself off, Rosanna went slowly to bed. She +thought while she was undressing and after she had put out the light and +was waiting for her grandmother to come in and kiss her good-night. And +the last thing before she dropped off to sleep her mind was whirling +with all sorts of wild ideas, but not one seemed to be just what was +wanted. One thing seemed to grow clearer and bigger and stronger, and +that was the feeling that Gwenny must be helped. + +The first thing that she and Helen asked each other the next day when +they met on the way to school was like a chorus. They both said, "Did +you think of anything?" and neither one had. + +Sad to relate, neither Rosanna nor Helen made brilliant recitations that +day, and coming home from school Helen said gravely, "What marks did you +get today, Rosanna?" + +"Seventy," answered Rosanna with a flush. + +"I got seventy-two, and it was a review. Oh dear, this won't do at all! +I was thinking about Gwenny, and trying to work up a plan so hard that I +just couldn't study. Either we have positively got to think up something +right away, or else we will have to make up our minds that we must do +our thinking on Saturdays only. Can't you think of a single thing?" + +"I seem to have glimmers of an idea," said Rosanna, "but not very bright +ones." + +"All I can think of is to get all the girls in our group to make fancy +things and have a fair." + +"That is not bad," said Rosanna, "but would we make enough to count for +much? Even if all the girls in our group should go to work and work +every single night after school we would not be able to make enough +fancy articles to make a whole sale." + +"I suppose not," sighed Helen. "This is Thursday. If we can't think of +something between now and Saturday afternoon, let's tell the girls about +it at the meeting and see what they suggest, and ask if they would like +to help Gwenny. But oh, I wish we could be the ones to think up +something! You see Gwenny sort of belongs to us, and I feel as though we +ought to do the most of the work." + +That night at dinner there was a guest at Rosanna's house, young Doctor +MacLaren, who had been in service with Uncle Robert. Rosanna quite lost +her heart to him, he was so quiet and so gentle and smiled so sweetly at +her grandmother. She sat still as a mouse all through the meal, +listening and thinking. + +After dinner when they had all wandered into the lovely old library that +smelled of books, she sat on the arm of her Uncle Robert's chair, and +while her grandmother was showing some pictures to the doctor, she +whispered to her uncle, "Don't you suppose the doctor could tell us how +much it would cost to cure Gwenny?" + +"You tickle my ear!" he said, and bit Rosanna's. + +"Behave!" said Rosanna sternly. "Don't you suppose he could?" + +"I am sure he could, sweetness, but I sort o' think he would have to see +Gwenny first. Shall we ask him about it?" + +"Oh, please let's!" begged Rosanna. + +"Th' deed is did!" said Uncle Robert, and as soon as he could break into +the conversation, he said: "Rick, Rosanna and I want to consult you." + +Rosanna squeezed his hand for that; it was so much nicer than to put it +all off on her. + +Doctor MacLaren laughed his nice, friendly laugh. "Well, if you are both +in some scheme, I should say it was time for honest fellows like me to +be careful. Let's hear what it is." + +"You tell, Rosanna," said Uncle Robert. "I can't talk and smoke all at +the same time." + +So Rosanna, very brave because of Uncle Robert's strong arm around her, +commenced at the beginning and told all about Gwenny and her family, and +her bravery in bearing the burden of her lameness and ill health. And +she went on to tell him about the Girl Scouts and all the good they do, +and that she was sure that they would help, but they (she and Helen) +hated to put it before the meeting unless they had some idea of the +amount of money it would be necessary for them to earn. And another +thing; what if they should start to get the money, and couldn't? What a +_dreadful_ disappointment it would be for Gwenny and indeed all the +family down to Baby Christopher! + +The two young men heard her out. Then Uncle Robert said: + +"I don't know the exact reason, but it seems that you cannot work with +these Girl Scouts if you are a parent. Are you a parent, Rick?" + +"Please don't tease, Uncle Bobby," said Rosanna pleadingly. "It is only +that we Scout girls are supposed to try to do things ourselves without +expecting all sorts of help from our mothers and fathers--and +grandmothers and uncles," she added rather pitifully. + +Robert patted her hand. Rosanna was an orphan. + +"I see now how it is," he said. "Tell us, Rick, what you think about +this." + +"I think that Saturday morning, when there is no school, Rosanna might +take me to call on Miss Gwenny and we will see about what the trouble +is. And I think as she does, that it would be very wise to say nothing +at all about this plan until we know something about the case. It would +be cruel to get the child's hopes up for nothing. If there is anything +that I dare do, I will promise you now that I will gladly do it, but I +cannot tell until I see her." + +"Thank you ever and ever so much!" said Rosanna. "We won't tell anyone a +thing about it!" + +"Can you drive over to Gwenny's tomorrow and tell her mother that a +doctor friend of mine is coming to see her?" asked Uncle Robert. + +"Indeed I can if grandmother is willing!" said Rosanna. "Oh, I _do_ feel +as though we will think up some way of earning the money!" + +Rosanna was so happy that she overslept next morning and was nearly late +getting to school, so she did not see Helen until they were dismissed. +They walked slowly home and sat down on their favorite place on the top +step. They had been sitting quietly, watching a group of children +playing in the leaves, when Rosanna jumped to her feet and commenced to +dance up and down. + +"Oh, Helen, Helen," she cried. "I believe I have it! I believe I have +it! Oh, I am _so_ excited!" + +"Well, do tell me!" exclaimed Helen. + +"That is just what I am going to do," said Rosanna, still dancing. +"Let's go around in the garden and sit in the rose arbor where no one +will disturb us." + +"That is the thing to do," agreed Helen, and together they went skipping +through the iron gateway that led into the lovely old garden. Once upon +a time that gate had been kept locked and little Rosanna had been almost +a prisoner among the flowers and trees that made the garden so lovely. +But now the gate swung on well-oiled hinges and all the little Girl +Scouts were welcome to come and play with Rosanna in her playhouse or +ride her fat little pony around the gravelled paths. + +The children banged the gate shut behind them and went to the most +sheltered spot in the garden, the rose arbor, where they were hidden +from view. They threw their school books on the rustic table and settled +themselves in two big chairs. + +"Now _do go on_," said Helen with a little thrill in her voice. "Oh, I +_do_ feel that you have thought up something splendid!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +"I have been thinking and thinking," said Rosanna, "and not an idea have +I had until just now. Here is what I just thought up. + +"You know Uncle Bob was telling me about benefit performances that +actors and musicians have. I think they get them up themselves mostly, +when they want some money, but I was talking to Minnie about it +yesterday when she came in for a minute and she says in her church they +have benefits all the time. People sing and play and recite poetry, and +it is lovely. And I thought up something better still. + +"What if you and I, Helen, could make up a sort of play all about the +Girl Scouts and give it?" + +"Write it out of our heads?" said Helen, quite aghast. + +"Yes," said Rosanna. "It is easy. Before grandmother used to let me have +little girls to play with, I used to make up plays, oh lots of times!" + +"With conversations?" pressed Helen. + +"Yes, made up of conversations and coming on the stage and going off +again, and people dying, and everything." + +"Dear me!" said Helen with the air of one who never suspected such a +thing of a friend. "_Dear me!_" she said again. "I am sure I could +_never_ do it. You will have to do it yourself. What is it going to be +about?" + +"Why, I have to have time to think," said Rosanna. "You have to think a +long time when you are going to be an author. It is very difficult." + +"You don't suppose you are all out of practice, do you?" asked Helen +anxiously. "Why, Rosanna, that would be too perfectly splendid! A real +play! Where could we give it? We couldn't rent a real theatre." + +"Oh, my, no!" said Rosanna, beginning to be rather frightened at the +picture Helen was conjuring up. "We won't have that sort of a play. We +will have a little one that we can give in grandmother's parlor, or over +at Mrs. Hargrave's." + +"I wouldn't," said Helen stoutly. "I just know you can write a beautiful +play, Rosanna, and I think we ought to give it in some big place where a +lot of people can come, and we will have tickets, and chairs all in rows +and a curtain and everything." + +"Oh, I don't believe I could write a good enough play for all that," +cried Rosanna. + +"Well, just do the best you can and I know it will be perfectly lovely." + +"I tell you what," said Rosanna, beginning to be sorry that she had +spoken. "Please don't tell Elise or anyone about it until I see what I +can write, and then after you and I have read it, if it is good enough, +we will show it to Uncle Robert and see what he says." + +"It _will_ be good enough," said Helen positively. "Just think of the +piece of poetry you wrote to read at the Girl Scout meeting. It was so +lovely that I 'most cried. All that part about the new moon, and how you +felt when you died. It sounded so true, and yet I don't see how you know +how you are going to feel when you die. I can't feel it at all. I +suppose that is because you are a poet. Mother says it is a great and +beautiful thing to be a poet, but that you must look out for your +digestion." + +"My digestion is all right so far," said Rosanna. "I am glad to know +that, though, because if your mother says so, it must be so." + +"Of course!" said Helen proudly. "When will you begin your play, +Rosanna?" + +"Right away after dinner," said Rosanna. "That is, if Uncle Robert goes +out. If he stays at home I will have to play cribbage with him. If I go +off to my own room, he comes right up. He says he is afraid that I will +get to nursing a secret sorrow." + +"What is a secret sorrow?" asked Helen. + +"I don't know exactly," said Rosanna. "Uncle Robert looked sort of funny +when I asked him, and perhaps he made it up because he just said, +'Why--er, why--er, a secret sorrow is--don't you know what it is, +Rosanna?'" + +"Sometimes I wonder if your Uncle Robert really means all he says," said +Helen suspiciously. + +"I wonder too," agreed Rosanna, nodding, "but he is a perfect dear, +anyway, even if he is old. He is twenty-four, and grandmother is always +saying that Robert is old enough to know better." + +"I know he will be all sorts of help about our play, anyway," said +Helen. + +"I know he will too," said Rosanna. "We will show him the play the +minute I finish it." + +Rosanna went right to work on her play whenever she had any time to +spare. + +When Saturday morning came she went with Doctor MacLaren to see Gwenny, +and after she had introduced him to Gwenny's mother she went and sat in +the automobile with Mary and Luella and Myron and Baby Christopher to +talk to. But she scarcely knew what she was saying because she was so +busy wondering what the doctor would do to poor Gwenny, whose back +nearly killed her if anyone so much as touched it. + +The doctor stayed a long, long time, and when he came out he stood and +talked and talked with Gwenny's mother. He smiled his kind, grave smile +at her very often, but when he turned away and came down the little walk +Rosanna fancied that he looked graver than usual. + +"Is she _very_ bad?" Rosanna asked when the machine was started. + +"Pretty bad, Rosanna dear," said the doctor. "She will need a very +serious operation that cannot be done here. She will have to go to a +hospital in Cincinnati where there is a wonderful surgeon, Doctor +Branshaw, who specializes in troubles of the spine. He will help her if +anyone can. She is in a poor condition anyway, and we will have to look +after her pretty sharply to get her in as good a shape physically as we +can. If she goes, I will take her myself, and will have her given the +best care she can have. What a dear, patient, sweet little girl she is." + +"Yes, she is!" agreed Rosanna absently. "Well, if she is as sick as you +think, I don't see but what we will just _have_ to earn the money some +way or other!" Rosanna was very silent all the way home, and that +afternoon she retired to the rose arbor and worked as hard as ever she +could on the play. It was really taking shape. Rosanna would not show +the paper to Helen or to Elise, who had been told the great secret. She +wanted to finish it and surprise them. + +By four o'clock she was so tired that she could write no longer. She put +her tablet away and started to the telephone to call Helen. As she went +down the hall the door bell rang. She could see a familiar figure +dancing up and down outside the glass door. It was Elise, apparently in +a great state of excitement. Rosanna ran and opened the door. + +Elise danced in. She caught Rosanna around the waist and whirled her +round and round. + +"Behold I have arrive, I have arrive!" she sang. + +"Of course you have arrived!" said Rosanna. "What makes you feel like +this about it?" + +"Behold!" said Elise again with a sweeping gesture toward the front +door. + +Mrs. Hargrave's house-boy, grinning from ear to ear, was coming slowly +up the steps bearing a large covered tray. Elise took it from him with +the greatest care and set it carefully on a table. + +"Approach!" she commanded, and Rosanna, really curious, drew near the +mysterious article. Slowly Elise drew off the cover. Under it in all the +glory of a golden brown crust, little crinkles all about the edge, sat a +pie looking not only good enough to eat, but almost _too_ good. + +"Peench off a tiny, tiny bit of ze frill," said Elise, pointing to the +scallopy edge. "A very tiny peench, and you will see how good. Now I can +be the Girl Scout because all the other things I can so well do." + +Rosanna took a careful pinch and found the crust light and very flaky +and dry. + +"Perfectly delicious, Elise!" she pronounced it. "Did you do it all +yourself?" + +"Of a certainty!" said Elise proudly. "I would not do the which +otherwise than as it is so required by the Girl Scouts. And now I am +most proud. If you will so kindly take me when you go to the meeting +this afternoon, I will offer this to the most adorable little Captain as +one more reason the why I should be allowed to join." + +"Of course I will take you," said Rosanna. "I was just going to +telephone for Helen. If she is ready we will start at once." + +"I will go for my hat," said Elise. Then anxiously, "Will the beautiful +pie rest here in safety?" + +"Yes, indeed; it will be perfectly safe," laughed Rosanna. + +Elise was the happiest little girl in all the room at the meeting. +Everyone fell in love with her at once, her manners were so gentle and +pretty and she was so full of life. Her curls danced and her eyes, and +her red lips smiled, and it seemed as though her feet wanted to dance +instead of going in a humdrum walk. The Scout Captain and the committee +on pie decided that Elise had made the most delicious of its kind. + +At the close of the business part of the meeting, the Captain asked as +usual if anyone had any news of interest to offer or any requests or +questions to ask. It was all Rosanna could do to keep from telling them +all about Gwenny and asking for advice and help, but she decided to keep +it all to herself until she had finished the play. Then if it turned out +to be any good (and it would be easy to tell that by showing it to Uncle +Bob) she would take it to the Captain, and if she approved, Rosanna +would bring the whole thing up before the next meeting. + +On the way home, Helen said to Rosanna, "How are you getting on with +your play, Rosanna? Did you work on it this afternoon as you expected +to?" + +"Yes, I did, and it seems to be coming along beautifully," said Rosanna. +"I wanted to ask you about it. Don't you think it would be nice to put +in a couple of songs about the Girl Scouts, and perhaps a dance?" + +"Simply splendid!" said Helen. "Oh, Rosanna, _do_ hurry! I can scarcely +wait for you to finish it. Girl Scout songs and a Girl Scout dance! Do +you know the Webster twins can dance beautifully? Their mother used to +be a dancer on the stage before she married their father, and she has +taught them the prettiest dances. They do them together. They are +awfully poor, and I don't know if they could afford to get pretty +dancing dresses to wear, but I should think we could manage somehow." + +"Oh, we will," said Rosanna. "I _do_ wish we could have our families +help us!" + +"Think how surprised they will be if we do this all by ourselves except +what Uncle Bob does, and our Scout Captain." + +"I don't see that Uncle Bob can do very much," rejoined Rosanna. "But he +is real interested and wants to help." + +"We ought to let him do whatever he can," said Helen. "Father often +tells mother that he hopes she notices how much she depends on his +superior intellect, but she just laughs and says 'Nonsense! Helen, don't +listen to that man at all!' But we must depend on our own superior +intellects now." + +"It won't take me long to finish the play," said Rosanna. "It is only +going to be a one-act play, and if it isn't long enough to make a whole +entertainment, we will have to have some recitations and songs before +and after it." + +"I do think you might let me see what you have written," coaxed Helen. + +"I would rather not," pleaded Rosanna. "Somehow I feel as though I +couldn't finish it if I should show it to anyone before it is done. I +will show it to you the very first one, Helen. Here is one thing you can +hear." + +She took a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket, and while Helen +walked very close beside her commenced: "This is a song sung by two +sisters named Elsie and Allis. And you will see what it is all about." + +"Is there a tune for it too?" said Helen in great wonder. + +"No, I can't make up music," said Rosanna regretfully, "and, anyhow, I +think it would come easier to use a tune everybody knows. This goes to +the tune of _Reuben, Reuben, I've been Thinking_. You know that?" + +"Of course," said Helen. "Now let's hear the poetry." + +Rosanna had written: + +"Two girls come on the stage, one from the right and one from the left. +One is dressed in beautiful clothes, and the other very neat and clean, +but in awfully poor things. She has on a thin shawl. She is Elsie. The +rich child is Allis. Allis sees Elsie, and sings: + + SONG + + Air, _Reuben, Reuben, I've Been Thinking_. + + _Allis._ + + Elsie, Elsie, I've been thinking + What a pleasure it would be, + If we had some friends or sisters + Just to play with you and me. + + All our time we spend in study + There is no place nice to go. + After school an hour of practice + Oh, I get to hate it so! + + _Chorus_ + + Just an hour or two of practice, + One and two and three and four; + Add, subtract, or find the tangent; + Everything is just a bore! + + _Elsie._ + + Then, dear Allis, when we finish, + We can go and take a walk; + That, unless the day is rainy, + Then we just sit down and talk. + + And there's not a thing to talk of, + Not a scheme or plan to make, + Not a deed of gentle loving, + Nothing done for Someone's sake. + + _Chorus_ + + Not a thing for us to aim for-- + Not a height for us to climb! + Just the stupid task of living; + Just the bore of passing time! + + _Enter Girl Scout with many Merit Badges on her sleeve._ + + _Girl Scout._ + + Did I hear you wish for friendships? + Mates to join in work and play? + Someone true and good and loving + You would chum with every day? + + See this uniform? It tells you + You can wear it; be a Scout! + See the sleeve with all the "Merits"? + You could win without a doubt. + + _Chorus_ + + _All--_ + + Oh, what fun we'll have together! + Oh, what work and jolly play! + Walks and talks and happy study + With the Girl Scouts every day. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +When Rosanna finished, Helen gave a sigh of delight. + +"Rosanna," she said, "it is perfectly beautiful; perfectly _beautiful_! +Shall you have the Webster girls sing that?" + +"I had not thought of them," confessed Rosanna. "I thought it would be +nice for Elise and you, Helen. You both sing so sweetly and you can both +dance too." + +"I shall be frightened to death," said Helen, trying to imagine herself +on a real little stage; at least on a make-believe stage with a curtain +stretched across Mrs. Horton's or Mrs. Hargrave's parlor. But frightened +or not, she was more than pleased that Rosanna had thought of her, and +she had no intention of giving up the part. + +She and Elise commenced to practice on the song, and between them made +up the prettiest little dance. Mrs. Culver and Mrs. Hargrave were +delighted to play their accompaniments and suggest steps. Of course they +had to be told something of what was going on, but they were very nice +and asked no questions. + +A week later Rosanna's little play was finished and ready to show Uncle +Robert. Rosanna was as nervous as a real playwright when he has to read +his lines to a scowly, faultfinding manager. She invited Helen over to +spend the night with her so she could attend the meeting. + +Her grandmother was out to a dinner-bridge party, so Rosanna and Helen +and Uncle Robert went up to Rosanna's sitting-room and prepared to read +her play. And if the truth must be told, Uncle Robert prepared to be a +little bored. But as Rosanna read on and on in her pleasant voice, +stopping once in awhile to explain things, Uncle Robert's expression +changed from a look of patient listening to one of amusement and then to +admiration. By the time Rosanna had finished he was sitting leaning +forward in his chair and listening with all his might. He clapped his +hands. + +"Well done, Rosanna!" he said heartily. "I am certainly proud of you! +Why, if you can do things of this sort at your age, Rosanna, we will +have to give you a little help and instruction once in awhile. Well, +well, that _is_ a play as _is_ a play! Don't you think so, Helen?" + +"It's just too beautiful!" said Helen with a sigh of rapture. "Just too +beautiful! Which is my part, Rosanna?" + +"I thought you could be the little girl who discovers the lost paper so +the other little Girl Scout's brother will not have to go to prison. +That is, if you like that part." + +"It is the nicest part of all," sighed Helen. "What part are you going +to take?" + +"I didn't think I would take any," said Rosanna. + +"Oh, you must be in it!" cried Helen. + +"No, Rosanna is right," declared Uncle Robert. "It is her play, you see, +and she will have to be sitting out front at all the rehearsals to see +that it is being done as she wants it." + +"That is what I thought," said Rosanna. "But you are going to help with +everything, are you not, Uncle Robert?" + +"Surest thing in the world!" declared Uncle Robert heartily. "But as +long as this is all about the Girl Scouts, won't you have to show it to +your Girl Scout Captain, or leader, before you go on with it?" + +"Of course," said Rosanna. + +"Who is she?" asked Uncle Robert carelessly. + +"Why, you saw her, Uncle Robert," replied Rosanna. "Have you forgotten +the dear sweet little lady who called when I was sick when we were +looking for someone very fierce and large?" + +"Sure enough!" said Uncle Robert after some thought. If Rosanna had +noticed she would have seen a very queer look in his eyes. He had liked +the looks of that young lady himself. "Well, what are you going to do +about it?" + +"I suppose I will have to go around to her house, and tell her all about +it and read it to her." + +"Is it written so I can read it?" said Uncle Robert, glancing over the +pages. "Very neat indeed. Now I will do something for you, if you want +me to save you the bother. Just to be obliging, I will take your play +and will go around and tell Miss Hooker that I am Rosanna's uncle, and +read it to her myself." + +"Why, you know her name!" said Rosanna. + +"Um--yes," said Uncle Robert. "I must have heard it somewhere. For +goodness' sake, Rosanna, this place is like an oven!" + +"You _are_ red," admitted Rosanna. "Well, I wish you would do that, +please, because it makes me feel so queer to read it myself. It won't +take you long so we will wait up for you to tell us what she thinks." + +"I wouldn't wait up," advised Uncle Robert, getting up. "If she likes +me, it may take some time." + +"Likes _you_?" said Rosanna. + +"I mean likes the way I read it, and likes the play, and likes the idea, +and likes everything about it," said Uncle Robert. He said good-bye and +hurried off, bearing the precious paper. + +The girls sat and planned for awhile, when the doorbell rang. Rosanna +could hear the distant tinkle, and saying "Perhaps he is back," ran into +the hall to look over the banisters. + +She returned with a surprised look on her face. + +"What do you suppose?" she demanded of Helen who sat drawing a plan of a +stage. "It is Uncle Robert, and Miss Hooker is with him. Oh, dear me, I +feel so fussed!" + +"Come down!" called Uncle Robert, dashing in the door. "I have a +surprise for you both." + +"No, you haven't! I looked over the banisters," said Rosanna, as the +three went down the broad stairs. + +Miss Hooker thought the play was so good and she was so proud to think +that one of her girls had written it that she was anxious to talk it +over at once, and had asked Uncle Robert to bring her right around to +see Rosanna and Helen. + +They all drew up around the big library table, and Uncle Robert sat next +Miss Hooker where he could make suggestions. And Miss Hooker and the +girls made a list of characters, and fitted them to different girls in +their group. Finally Miss Hooker said there were several places that +needed a little changing and would Rosanna trust her to do it with Mr. +Horton's help? At this Uncle Robert looked most beseechingly at Rosanna, +who, of course, said yes. + +"Where will we give it?" asked Helen. "As long as it is a benefit we +want a place large enough for lots of people to come. All our families +will want to come, and all the Girl Scouts' families, and perhaps some +other people besides." + +"We will give it here, won't we, Uncle Robert? Grandmother will let us, +I'm sure. In the big drawing-room, you know." + +"Not big enough," declared Uncle Robert, while both girls exclaimed. +"Now this is the part I can help about and I have just had a great idea. +You all know that big barn of Mrs. Hargrave's? We boys used to play +there on rainy days when we were little. The whole top floor is one +immense room. We can give our entertainment there. Mrs. Hargrave will +give the barn, I know. And for my contribution or part of it, I will see +that you have a stage and a curtain and all that." + +"How dear of you, Mr. Horton!" said Miss Hooker. + +"Oh, Uncle Robert, a curtain that goes up and down?" + +"Of course," said Uncle Robert, "and footlights and everything." + +"O-o-o-o-h!" sighed both girls, and Miss Hooker looked at Uncle Robert +and smiled and he seemed real pleased. + +"I think I must go if you will be kind enough to take me home," said +Miss Hooker. "Rosanna, you must tell the Girl Scouts about Gwenny at the +next meeting, and read your play. Then we will get right to work, for +the sooner this is staged, the better. We don't want to interfere with +the Christmas work." + +After Mr. Horton had taken the tiny little lady home, the girls raced +upstairs and went to bed, but it was a long, long time before they could +get to sleep. They finally went off, however, and did not hear Uncle +Robert when he came home whistling gaily. They dreamed, however, both of +them, of acting before vast audiences that applauded all their speeches. +And at last Rosanna woke up with a start to find that Helen was clapping +her hands furiously and stamping her feet against the footboard. After +Rosanna succeeded in awakening her, they had a good laugh before they +went to sleep again. + +At breakfast Uncle Robert was full of plans for the Benefit. "Miss +Hooker and I went all over your play last night, Rosanna," he said, "and +smoothed out the rough places. You know every manuscript has to be +corrected. It is on the table in my room. You had better read it over +after school, and if it suits your highness I will have it typewritten +for you, and you can go ahead. I am going to see about the barn now, on +my way down town, and if Mrs. Hargrave is willing--and I am sure she +will be--I will get a carpenter to measure for the staging. I suppose," +he added, "I ought to ask Miss Hooker to look at the place and get some +suggestions from her?" + +"Oh, I wouldn't bother to wait for her," said Rosanna, who was wild to +see the stage built. "She won't care what you do. If you like, I will +tell her how busy you are and that you won't bother to come around to +her house any more because you can attend to things just as well +yourself." + +Uncle Robert looked hard at Rosanna. It was a queer look; sort of the +look you would expect from a cannibal uncle who has a little niece that +he wants to eat. Rosanna, catching the look, was surprised and quite +disturbed. But when Uncle Robert spoke, he merely said, "Thank you, +Rosanna; but you see I _do_ need Miss Hooker's advice very much indeed. +The fact is I will never be able to put this thing through as well as I +want to put it through unless I can consult with her every day or so. In +fact, if I cannot consult as often as I need to, I will certainly have +to give it up. And that would be awful, wouldn't it?" + +"Of course it would, Uncle Robert," answered Rosanna. "I just hated to +have you bothered." + +"I will stagger along under the burden," said Uncle Robert, trying to +look like a martyr. "The thing for you to do is to forget how hard I am +working and how much help I have to have doing this, and get your girls +to studying on their parts." + +"Miss Hooker says I am to read it at the Scout meeting next week and +then we will give out the parts and let them be learning them." + +"All right, sweetness; get after them," said Uncle Robert, kissing +Rosanna, and Helen, too, "for luck" he said, and going off whistling. + +"I think the play is making Uncle Robert very happy," said Rosanna as +the front door slammed and she heard a merry whistle outside. "He is a +changed person these last few days." + +"That is what often happens," said Helen. "Probably he did not have +anything to occupy his mind after business hours, so he was unhappy. +Mother says it is a serious condition to allow oneself to be in. Now +that he has our play to think about, he feels altogether different. I do +myself. Do you know it is time to start for school? Let's be off so we +won't have to hurry, and we will have time to stop for Elise." + +Elise was ready and the three girls sauntered down the street together. + +As they passed a great imposing stone house, Elise said, "It is a +chateau--what you call castle, isn't it?" + +"Yes," said Rosanna, "and a cross old ogre lives in it. He and his +sister live there all alone, with lots of maids and men to serve them, +and he is so growly-wowly that Minnie says even the grocer boys are +afraid of him. That is his car in front of the door. Did you ever see +anything so large?" + +"Or so lovely?" added Elise. "If he was not so ze what you just call +growlee-wowlee, he might carry us to school; not?" + +"There he comes," said Rosanna. "Does he look as though he would carry +any little girls _any_where unless he carried them off to eat?" + +The great carved door opened and an old gentleman came down the steps. +He walked with a cane and to the children he seemed very old indeed with +his snow white hair and fierce moustaches. He scowled as he came and +stopped to switch with his cane at a vine that had straggled up the +step. He noticed the three girls approaching, and scowled at them so +fiercely that they involuntarily stopped to let him pass. But he was in +no hurry to do so. When he had looked them over sufficiently, he looked +past them and snorted loudly at something he saw up the street, but when +the girls looked around to see what was the matter, there was only a +little baby girl playing with a little woolly dog; so they all looked +back again at the old gentleman. He seemed to fascinate them. + +Three pair of round eyes fixed on him caught the old gentleman's +attention. + +"Well, well, well!" he said testily. "What do you see? Come, come, speak +out!" + +Elise drew back but the other two stood their ground, and Rosanna, who +had seen him all her life and was at least accustomed to him, said +gently: + +"We see _you_, sir." + +"Ha hum!" sputtered the old gentleman, drawing his fierce white eyebrows +together. "What about me, young woman, what about me to stare at?" + +Rosanna was distressed. There seemed nothing to do but tell him the +truth and that was almost too awful. She smoothed it down as well as she +could. + +"If you will excuse me for saying so, you looked a little cross," she +said, "and--and something must be making you very unhappy." + +"It is," said the ogre. "It makes me unhappy to see what a silly +no-account world this is; full of small children, and woolly dogs, and +things. Kittens! Babies! Chickens! Bah! All making noises! All getting +up at daybreak to play and meow and crow. Bah! Of course I am unhappy!" + +He crossed the walk, waved the footman back with his cane, stepped +painfully into the car, and with his own hand slammed the door shut. But +his anger blinded him. He did not take his hand away soon enough, and +the heavy door caught it. With a cry of pain, he dropped back on the +cushions. The middle finger was crushed and bleeding profusely. + +"Heaven protect us!" cried Elise. + +The old gentleman was almost fainting. Rosanna did not hesitate. The +Girl Scouts had to understand First Aid. She ran up to the car and +entered it, tearing up her handkerchief as she did so. Helen, close +behind her, was doing the same thing with hers. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Gently but firmly taking the bleeding finger in her little hand, Rosanna +bound it up in the strips of linen, folding them back and forth in quite +a professional manner. Helen helped her to tie the bandages. Not until +they had finished did they take time to glance up at the old gentleman. +He was deathly white and leaned heavily against the cushions. + +"Now, sir," said Rosanna, "if you will have your man drive you to a +doctor, he will treat it with an antiseptic and it will soon be all +right." + +The old gentleman commenced to brace up as he saw that the bleeding at +least was checked. The girls got out of the car, and the old gentleman +with a muttered, "Thank you, thank you," gave an order and the chauffeur +drove rapidly away. + +"He said _thank you_ once for each of us anyway," said Helen. + +Elise shuddered. "Your dress!" she said, pointing to Rosanna. Sure +enough, Rosanna was spattered with blood. + +"Oh, dear, I will have to be late," she said. "Just look at me! I will +have to go back and put on a clean dress." She turned reluctantly and +ran back home, while the others went on to school and the automobile +carried the old gentleman rapidly to the office of his doctor. + +While the physician was attending to the hand, the old gentleman, whose +name was Harriman, sat and sputtered: + +"First time I ever saw any children with a grain of common sense!" he +declared. "Little girl acted in a fairly intelligent manner. Suppose it +wouldn't happen again. Children never know anything, especially girls. +Bah!" + +"Oh, yes, they do, Mr. Harriman," said Doctor Greene soothingly. "Oh, +yes, they do! Now I have two little girls of my own, and I can tell +you--" + +"Don't!" said Mr. Harriman. "I make it a point never to listen to fond +parents. I am sure the two girls who fixed me up were unusual--very +unusual." + +"Yes, they were," said the doctor. "You will have an easier time with +this hand of yours, thanks to their skill." + +"Queer!" said Mr. Harriman. "Seemed to know just what to do." + +"Must have been Girl Scouts," said the doctor musingly. + +"Girl Scouts? What foolishness is that?" said Mr. Harriman. + +The doctor smiled. He thought of his own two daughters. + +"Ask them about it," he said, rising, and would say no more. + +Mr. Harriman limped out. + +"What are Girl Scouts?" Mr. Harriman asked his chauffeur as they drove +to his office. + +"I dunno, sah," said the colored man, starting. He always jumped when +Mr. Harriman spoke. Everyone wanted to. + +"Idiot!" said Mr. Harriman. + +"Yes, sah," said the chauffeur cheerfully. + +There seemed nothing else to say. + +Mr. Harriman's hand healed very quickly for so old a man, and the doctor +stubbornly gave all the credit to Rosanna's first-aid treatment. Mr. +Harriman could say "Stuff and nonsense!" as many times as he liked, but +it made no difference to the doctor, who smiled and refused to discuss +the matter. Mr. Harriman commenced to have a troublesome conscience. He +felt as though he should call and thank the little girl who had +befriended him to such good purpose, especially as he had known +Rosanna's grandmother all her life, but he could not bring himself to do +it and contented himself with sending two immense wax dolls and a huge +box of candy to Rosanna's house addressed to "The two girls who recently +bound up my hand." Rosanna and Helen were quite embarrassed, but Mrs. +Horton, who was immensely amused, told them that all that was necessary +was a note of thanks, which they wrote and sent off in a great hurry. +They didn't want to keep Mr. Harriman waiting. No one did. But he +couldn't find out anything about the Girl Scouts because the only +persons he asked were the very persons who would never know anything +much about anything that had to do with girls or good times or youth or +happiness. He asked his old friends at the club, when he felt like +talking at all, and so the time went on. + +In the meantime, at a Scout meeting Rosanna found herself telling the +girls all about Gwenny and the play and the plans for sending the poor +little cripple to Cincinnati for the operation which might make her +well. It was only _might_. Doctor MacLaren and the other doctors whom he +had taken to see Gwenny would only say that it could be _tried_. And the +great surgeon, Dr. Branshaw, had written Dr. MacLaren that as soon as +the child was in a fit condition she could be brought to him and he +would do what he could. He said nothing about the cost, Rosanna noticed, +when she read his letter, so she could not tell the girls what the +operation would cost. They were all as interested as they could be and +promised to work as hard as they could selling tickets, and the ones who +were chosen to take parts in the play were very happy about it. As a +matter of fact, all of them were to come on the stage, for those who had +no speaking parts came on and marched and so had a share in the glory. + +And the way they learned their parts! They almost mastered them over +night. Rehearsals went on, and the day was set for the entertainment. + +There was a great deal of hammering up in Mrs. Hargrave's barn. Mrs. +Hargrave and Miss Hooker and Uncle Robert spent a good deal of time up +there, but they would not let anyone else in. Even Elise was barred out, +and although she wrung her little hands and talked a funny mixture of +French and English in her pretty coaxing way, not one of the three would +relent and let her peek in. "Wait until it comes time for the dress +rehearsals," was all they would say. + +A week before the play, a big box came for Uncle Robert. He opened it in +Rosanna's room. It was full of tickets nicely printed on yellow +pasteboard. Rosanna read them with rapture: the name of the play, _her_ +play, and at the top in large print, + + BENEFIT PERFORMANCE + +"You have not said anything about what the performance is to be a +benefit _for_." said Rosanna. + +"That's all right," said her uncle. + +"And you have forgotten to say the price of the tickets," wailed Helen, +who was again spending the night. + +"Well," said Mr. Horton, "when I went to order those tickets for you, I +had an idea. And it was this. I thought as long as this was a benefit +performance, why not let it benefit everybody present?" + +"How can it do that?" asked Rosanna. + +"In this way," said Uncle Robert. "There will be all sorts of people +there, because some of the Girl Scouts, Miss Hooker says, are very poor +indeed, and some of them belong to families who have plenty of money. So +Miss Hooker suggested a very good scheme. Tell the girls when they sell +tickets to say that as it is a benefit and so forth and so forth, that +the tickets are simply to let the people into the hall. As they go out +they are to pay whatever they think it is worth, from five cents up." + +"Perfectly splendid!" said Helen, catching the idea at once. + +"I don't know," answered Rosanna. "They will have seen the performance +and suppose everybody will feel as though it is worth only a nickel?" + +"Oh, they won't feel like that at all, Rosanna," said Helen. "I think +every single person will think it is worth a quarter. Think if they +would all pay twenty-five cents!" + +"I know several who expect to pay a dollar," said Uncle Robert. + +"If they only will," cried Rosanna, almost sobbing, "Gwenny can go to +Cincinnati this very winter! I think it is a good idea, Uncle Robert. +After all, it is a good thing that you did consult with Miss Hooker, +even if it _has_ taken a lot of your time. I think you have been so +kind." + +"Oh, I haven't minded," said Uncle Robert in a generous way. + +"Why, you must have minded," went on Rosanna. "I have kept track all I +could, because I was so much obliged to you, and you have been over +there at Miss Hooker's house consulting--well, you had to go over five +nights last week, and Miss Hooker is always saying, 'I had a telephone +today from your uncle.' You must be tired to death. I nearly told Miss +Hooker so, but I thought it might sound rude." + +"You are right about that, Rosanna; it would have been very rude indeed, +excessively rude I may say," said Mr. Horton with some haste. "I can +scarcely think of anything worse for you to say. My sainted Maria!" + +"I didn't say it," Rosanna assured him, "and the thing is so nearly over +now, only a week more, that it really doesn't matter." + +"Not a particle!" said Mr. Horton. "But I wish you would promise me that +you won't say anything of the sort. Not that it matters, but I seem to +feel nervous." + +"Of course I will promise," agreed Rosanna. "I love Miss Hooker but of +course I love you more, and I just do hate to have you bothered." + +"It is mighty nice of you, sweetness, but you must not worry about me at +all. Now to change the conversation, as the man said when he had nearly +been hanged by mistake, you give these tickets out to your Girl Scouts +and tell them to offer them to the people who would be most likely to +give more than a nickel. It ought to be easy. They are to say that the +benefit will cost them five cents or up as they leave the hall. With +your permission, I will make a few remarks and tell them about Gwenny. +But we will not mention her by name, because if there should be a +newspaper reporter lurking around he would put it in the papers and that +would be very embarrassing." + +After Uncle Robert had gone out the girls made the tickets up in little +bundles, one for each girl in the group. Their own they spread out on +the table, planning how they would dispose of them. + +"Whom shall you sell to first?" asked Helen. + +"Mr. Harriman," said Rosanna quietly. + +Helen dropped her tickets. "Dear _me_, Rosanna!" she cried. "I would be +too afraid to offer him a ticket." + +"_I_ am not," said Rosanna. "I would do more than that for Gwenny, and I +am not afraid of him at all. Not even if he roars. And he has lots and +lots of money. I shouldn't wonder at all that he will be one of the +dollar ones if he comes. And he has _got_ to come if I go after him." + +"Dear _me_!" said Helen again, quite awed. "You are brave. Shall I come +with you?" + +"If you like," replied Rosanna. "We will go right after school +tomorrow." + +The interview with Mr. Harriman took place as planned the first thing +after school. School let out at two o'clock, and it was half-past when +the girls mounted the steps of the grim old fortress in which Mr. +Harriman lived. Now it happened that half past two was a very dark hour +for Mr. Harriman because at about that time he was always in the clutch +of a bad attack of indigestion brought on daily because he would _not_ +mind his doctor and omit pickles and sweets from his bill of fare. At +this time he read the morning paper and reviled the world at large. His +sister always left him with the excuse that she wanted to lie down, and +he was alone with his abused stomach and his pepsin tablets and his +thoughts. + +The two girls entered the room and waited for him to speak. + +Mr. Harriman looked up from his reading with a dark scowl. Most of the +newspaper was on the floor where he had thrown it to stamp on. He always +felt better when he stamped on the editorials that displeased him most. +It seemed to soothe his feelings. He managed to grunt, "'Dafternoon! +'Dafternoon!" when he saw the two girls advance across his library, and +then he waited, looking over the tops of a very grubby pair of glasses +for them to state their errands. It was Rosanna who spoke first, +although generally Helen was the spokesman. But Helen was frankly afraid +of the grouchy old gentleman, while Rosanna was too anxious to help +Gwenny to be afraid of anyone. So she said, "Please excuse us, Mr. +Harriman, if we have interrupted your reading." + +"Well, you have!" said Mr. Harriman gruffly. "Whadder you want? Sell me +chances on a doll's carriage or sofy pillow? Who's getting up your fair? +Meth'dist, 'Piscopal? Here's a dime." + +He held out the money, which Rosanna took gently and laid on the table +beside him. + +"Thank you," she said. "We don't want any money today. We have come to +tell you about an entertainment we are going to give. First if you don't +mind I think I will just shine up your glasses. You can't see to think +through them the way they are," and as Helen looked on, expecting to see +Rosanna snapped in two any second, she held out her hand for the +glasses, shaking out a clean pocket handkerchief as she did so. No one +was more surprised than Mr. Harriman himself when he took off the smeary +spectacles and handed them to Rosanna, who silently polished them and +handed them back. They _were_ better; Mr. Harriman acknowledged it with +a grunt. + +"Girls are real handy," said Rosanna with her sweet smile. + +"Grrrrrr!" from Mr. Harriman. "Whadded you want to tell me?" but his +voice certainly seemed a shade less gruff. + +Rosanna, speaking distinctly and as carefully as though she was +explaining to a small child, told the old man about Gwenny and the +benefit and after that, as he sat perfectly still looking at her through +unnaturally shiny glasses, she went on to tell him about the Girl +Scouts. You couldn't tell whether he cared a snap about it, but at all +events he listened, and Helen and Rosanna both thought it was a good +sign. They did not dare to glance at each other, but Rosanna went on +talking until she felt that she had told him all that he would want to +know if he had been a regular sort of a human being instead of a +grouchy, cross old man who seemed to delight in scaring everyone away +from him. + +"That's all," said Rosanna finally, smiling up into the scowling old +face. + +There was a long silence, + +"Grrrrrr!" said Mr. Harriman again. "So you want me to come to your +show, do you? Haven't been to a show for forty years! No good! Silly!" + +"Ours isn't," declared Helen, suddenly finding her voice. "Our +entertainment is perfectly splendid!" + +"Perfectly splendid!" mimicked Mr. Harriman. "Sounds just like a woman! +All alike, regardless of age. Grrrrrr!" + +"You will come, won't you?" asked Rosanna. "Please do! You see it is +only a nickel if you do not think it is worth more." + +"A great many persons are going to pay a quarter," hinted Helen. + +"All right, all right!" said Mr. Harriman. "You are less objectionable +than most children. I will come if I can remember it." + +"Suppose I come after you?" suggested Rosanna, remembering what she had +said to Helen about getting Mr. Harriman if she had to come after him. + +"All right, all right! Let it go at that! I know your sex! You will +forget all about your agreement by the time you reach the next corner. +If you come after me, I will go to your show. In the Hargrave barn, eh? +Anything to sit on, or shall I bring a chair?" + +"No, sir; Uncle Robert has fixed seats and everything. And I will come +for you quite early because I have to be there doing my part." + +"That's nuff!" grunted Mr. Harriman, nodding curtly. "'Dafternoon!" He +resumed his paper, and as he caught the opening sentences of the article +before him, there came a sound like the grating of teeth and the noise +of a large boiler that is about to explode. + +The girls said, "Good afternoon!" in two small voices and went out as +quickly as they could. + +Helen breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the outer air. + +"Rosanna, you are certainly a very brave girl," she said. "I am glad to +get out alive. Every minute I expected to hear him say, 'Fee-fi-fo-fum, +I smell the breath of an English-mun!'" + +Rosanna laughed. + +"He is pretty awful," she granted. "But I mean to make him come. I think +it will do him good to see that play, and I shall certainly go after +him. If he thinks I am going to forget about him, he is greatly +mistaken." + +"Let's try to get rid of all our tickets this afternoon. You know we are +to meet Uncle Robert at the barn at five o'clock to see the theatre he +has fixed up. Oh, Helen, I am _so_ excited!" + +For a couple of hours the girls repeated the story of Gwenny and the +benefit until they could say it by heart. The tickets went so fast that +they were sorry that they did not have twice as many. At a quarter of +five they hurried back to Mrs. Hargrave's, where Elise was waiting for +them and Uncle Robert soon joined them. There was a short wait then, +because he refused to unlock the door before Miss Hooker arrived +although the girls begged and begged, assuring him that she wouldn't +mind. + +Finally they heard the tap, tap, tap of her tiny shoes on the old brick +walk, and round the corner she came, looking more dimply and dainty and +altogether beautiful than ever. Uncle Robert looked as though he could +eat her, but somehow it was not the sort of look he had given Rosanna +that other time. Not at all! Rosanna noticed it. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The stairs were broad and easy, and the girls ran up after Uncle Robert +who proceeded to fit a large key in the lock of the big door at the head +of the stairs. It was a very fine stable, built many, many years ago, +and finished outside and inside with great care. The walls were all +sealed or finished with narrow strips of varnished wood. As the door +swung open, the three girls stood dumb with amazement. Then "Oh, +_darling_ Uncle Robert!" cried Rosanna, and threw herself into his arms. + +Uncle Robert looked over her head at Miss Hooker and smiled. + +"Glad if you like it, kiddie," he said. "It is my contribution to little +Gwenny. And Doctor Rick told me to tell you that he would send some +music for his share." + +"Oh, Helen, Helen, isn't that _splendid_?" cried Rosanna. "Now we won't +have to have a Victrola! It will be like a real theatre." + +"Just exactly," said Helen absently. She could not give very much +thought to the orchestra when the little theatre claimed her attention. + +There was a real stage, and before it a long green tin that the girls +knew concealed the footlights. A splendid curtain hung before them, +painted in a splashy way with a landscape. To the girls it seemed a rare +work of art. Well, the sign painter who had done it was rather proud of +himself, so it _must_ have been all right. + +They walked down the aisle between rows of nice new benches, made with +comfortable backs. Mr. Horton left them and went around back of the +stage. Immediately there was a sound of ropes squeaking, and the curtain +rose as majestically as though it was the curtain of a real theatre. And +there was the stage! The same accommodating sign painter had painted a +back drop and "flies" as they are called. It was a woodland scene. Trees +were the thing that accommodating sign painter could do best, and he had +made lots of them, as green as green! He had also painted two canvas +covered boxes so that you could scarcely tell them from real rocks. + +"Isn't that pretty nifty looking scenery?" asked Uncle Robert proudly. +"It only goes to show that there is a lot of kindness floating around +loose in this work-a-day old world. The man who painted all this knew +Gwenny's mother when she was a girl, and when I asked for his bill he +said he had done it all Sundays and nights and it was his contribution. +He wouldn't take a cent. Doing it nights is why some of the trees look +sort of bluish but I don't think it hurts, do you?" + +"What a nice, _nice_ man!" exclaimed Miss Hooker. "I should say it +_doesn't_ hurt! To think of his working nights after painting all day +long. I should admire those trees if they were a bright _purple_!" + +"Of course you would," said Uncle Robert softly. "You are like that." + +Rosanna was hurt. "Why, Uncle Robert! She doesn't mean that she would +just as _soon_ like a purple tree as a green one. She means how nice it +was of the man." + +"Thank you, Rosanna; it is all perfectly clear to me now," smiled Uncle +Robert. "Perfectly clear." He looked again at Miss Hooker and she +smothered a little smile behind her little handkerchief. + +They hated to go out of the theatre and see Uncle Robert lock the door. +Then they separated. Elise danced off to the house. Miss Hooker and +Helen went down the street together, and Uncle Robert and Rosanna cut +across the garden. Rosanna's heart was full. She wanted _everybody_ to +be happy. + +"Uncle Robert," she said, "sometimes I wish that you were going to get +married after awhile. If you were only going to marry Miss Hooker or +some young lady just like her, so little and sweet!" + +"Well, it is worth considering," said Uncle Robert. "I wonder now, just +for the sake of argument, that is, if I _should_ do it to accommodate +you, I wonder if Miss Hooker _would_ marry me." + +"Oh, no," said Rosanna. "She wouldn't _think_ of it." + +"Ugh!" said Uncle Robert. It sounded as though someone had knocked all +the air out of him. + +"No," continued Rosanna. "We were talking about Minnie getting married +one day, and I said it was the only wedding I was ever apt to have +anything to do with because I had heard you say many times that you were +not a marrying man." + +"What did she say?" asked Uncle Robert in a sort of strangled voice +which Rosanna, skipping along at his side, failed to notice. + +"Oh, she said, 'How interesting!' and I said, 'Isn't it? Because he is +nicer than anyone I know, but he says that girls never cut any figure in +his young life except to play with.'" + +"What did she say then?" demanded Mr. Horton. + +"Nothing at all," answered Rosanna, "but she is sensible too, because +the next time I was there, she asked more about Minnie, and then she +said she had decided never to marry. She said she liked to be polite to +men and help them pass the time, and to assist them in worthy works, but +further than that she despised the whole lot of them, especially +blonds." Rosanna looked up to see what color hair Uncle Robert had, and +noticed a very queer look on his face. + +"You look so queer, Uncle Robert," she said tenderly. "Don't you feel +well?" + +"No, I don't," said Uncle Robert. "I think if you will excuse me I will +take a walk." + +"How _do_ you feel?" persisted Rosanna. + +"I feel--I feel _queer_," said Uncle Robert. "I feel sort of as though I +had been gassed." + +He turned abruptly and went down the walk, leaving Rosanna staring after +him. At dinner, however, Uncle Robert declared that he was all right, so +Rosanna stopped worrying. + +Everything went rushing along. And everything went beautifully, thanks +to the energy everybody put into their work. A couple of days before the +day of the entertainment Uncle Robert appeared with a copy of the +programs that he had had printed. All the Girl Scouts, when Rosanna +brought it to the rehearsal, read it until the paper was quite worn out. +At the bottom of the page, after the program part, was printed plainly, +_Given by the Girl Scouts of Group II_. Whoever saw the program at all +could not fail to see that they were all in it, one as much as another. + +At last the great day came! It was Saturday, of course. No other day +would be possible for busy school girls. Directly after supper, the +Scouts commenced to file into the theatre by ones and twos and threes. +They gathered in the dressing-rooms back of the stage, where they sat or +stood in solemn groups. Helen and Elise had arrived, and as Rosanna +started across the garden she happened to think of Mr. Harriman. She +could not suppress a groan of dismay as she remembered her promise to go +after him. There was no time to get Helen or Elise to go. She looked +wildly up and down for some other Girl Scout, but there was not one in +sight. If she did not go, Mr. Harriman would indeed think that all women +were alike. So she flitted down the street looking like a good fairy in +her shimmering blue dress, with the tiny wreath of forget-me-nots +banding her dark hair. She had not taken time to put on her blue evening +coat, with its broad bands of white fox fur, but held it round her +shoulders with both hands as she ran. + +Mr. Harriman was at home, the footman said, but he was engaged; had +company for dinner, and they had not quite finished. Would she wait? + +Rosanna said she was sorry but she would have to go right in and speak +to Mr. Harriman. So she passed the pompous servant and at the +dining-room door a still more pompous butler, and stepped into the +presence of Mr. Harriman and his guests. + +Miss Harriman, a thin, scared little old lady, sat at the head of the +table. Opposite her, busy with a large dish of plum pudding, sat Mr. +Harriman. His two guests sat on either side of him. They were old too, +so three white-haired old gentlemen turned and looked at Rosanna as she +entered and dropped a curtsey. + +"'Devening! There you are again! Grrrrrr! Didn't forget, did you? Bah! +Want I should go to show?" said Mr. Harriman, partly to Rosanna and +partly to the others. + +"Yes, sir; this is the night," said Rosanna. + +"What's this?" asked one of the gentlemen, who looked as though he could +not have said _grrrrrr_ or _bah_ to save his life. + +"That's a Girl Scout," said Mr. Harriman. "Told you at the club that I +would find out about 'em. Here's a live one. Caught her myself." He +acted quite pleased. + +"Shall I wait and walk over with you, Mr. Harriman," asked Rosanna, "or +will you come as soon as you can? You see I must be over there very +early." + +"I will come m'self," said Mr. Harriman. "Want piece puddin'? No? +S'good! I will come later. Won't break my word. Didn't break yours. +Bring these fellows along if they have any money." + +"How much will we need?" said the third old gentleman, laughing. + +"Anything from a nickel up," replied Rosanna. + +"Cost you a quarter," said Mr. Harriman. "Cosgrove, here, will have to +pay thirty-five cents. Based on income tax!" + +Rosanna, watching him, thought she saw a real twinkle in Mr. Harriman's +eye. She warned them to be on time and promised to save three seats for +them in the front row. Then she went skipping happily off. Three instead +of one to come to the play, two quarters, and thirty-five cents made +eighty-five cents right there! It was enough to make _anyone_ skip. When +she reached the barn people were filing up the broad stairs, and the +room was already half full. Uncle Robert stood near the door nodding and +smiling and telling the Girl Scout ushers where to seat one and another. +Rosanna hurriedly wrote "Taken" on the backs of three tickets, and laid +them on three spaces on the bench nearest the stage. As people kept +coming, she commenced to wonder if there would be seats enough. She +whispered her fear to Uncle Robert. + +"That's all right," he said. "I have one of the box stalls downstairs +full of camp chairs, and the sign painter is here to help me bring them +up if they are needed." + +"You think of everything," said Rosanna fondly, then set herself to +watch the door for Mr. Harriman. It was not long before she heard the +clump, clump, clump of his cane and the heavy footsteps of his two +friends. She escorted them proudly to their seats, and left them nodding +appreciatively at the bright curtain and all the fittings of the little +theatre. Then she hurried around back of the stage. + +"They came, eighty-five cents' worth!" she whispered to Helen. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Mr. Harriman is here and two of his friends," said Rosanna. "And Mr. +Harriman and one friend will give twenty-five cents, and the other will +give thirty-five." + +"Good!" said Helen. "How do I look? Is the place filling up? Have you +seen the music Doctor Rick sent? Five pieces! They have just come. They +are down in the feed room getting their instruments out. Oh, I am _so_ +excited! And it is all to make Gwenny well." + +"I am going out now," said Rosanna. "I wish you could all sit out in +front. It does not seem fair for me to do so." + +"It _is_ fair," Helen assured her. "Didn't you write the whole play? Of +course you must see that it is played right." + +When Rosanna appeared she glanced at Mr. Harriman and was surprised to +have him beckon her to him. + +"Sit here," he said, making a small but sufficient space between himself +and one of his friends--the thirty-five cent one, Rosanna noticed. She +sat down, and as she did so the music started off with a flourish. How +splendidly it sounded! It quite drowned the sound of people entering. +Uncle Robert, and the sign painter, and a couple of brothers belonging +to one of the girls were busy bringing camp chairs and placing them in +the wide aisle and along the sides. Two bright red spots burned on +Rosanna's cheeks. + +She looked at her wrist watch. In five minutes it would begin. And it +did. + +A row of Girl Scouts in crisp, natty looking uniforms, marching +according to size, so that the large girls were in the center of the +stage, came out before the curtain and sang one of their best Girl Scout +songs. Their voices were so sweet and they sang so well that they had to +return and give an encore. Mr. Harriman pounded with his cane. + +Then the Webster girls, dressed as fairies, came out and danced what the +program called the Moonbeam Dance, and behold, Uncle Robert had fixed a +spot light so they looked pink and white and purple and blue by turns +and it was like a real theatre. + +There was so much applause after this that Rosanna could not help +wondering if it was a good strong barn! + +Then there was a short pause while the orchestra played. + +As it ended, Uncle Robert appeared before the curtain. He looked so +beautiful to Rosanna in his evening dress with his merry eyes and +pleasant smile, that her eyes filled with tears of pride. And he made a +beautiful simple little speech. He told the audience a great deal about +the Girl Scouts and all the good the organization was doing for the +girls and others as well, and then he told of the little lame girl, +suffering so hopelessly and so patiently, and how these Girl Scouts had +determined to help her. He told them there was no price set on the +tickets, because some might feel like giving ten cents or even a quarter +or so but that no one was _asked_ to leave more than a nickel. And then +he called their attention to the beautiful curtain and told them that +that and the scenery was the gift of a friend who was a sign painter, +who had done it Sundays and nights after work as his contribution to the +benefit, and everybody clapped furiously, and Mr. Harriman and the +thirty-five cent gentleman commenced to nudge each other behind Rosanna. +_She_ was sitting on the very front edge of the bench. + +Then Uncle Robert said: + +"After another short selection by the orchestra there will be a play +written by one of the Girl Scouts. We hope that you will enjoy it." He +bowed, and stepped behind the curtain, while everybody clapped and Mr. +Harriman thumped with his cane. + +As the orchestra struck up, the thirty-five cent gentleman leaned over +to Mr. Harriman and said, "What are you going to do about it, Dick?" + +"Do 'swell's you do," said Mr. Harriman. + +"Just as much?" questioned the thirty-five cent gentleman. + +"Yes," said Mr. Harriman, snorting. "And fifty over!" + +"I will break even with you both," said the third gentleman, leaning +across. + +Mr. Cosgrove took out a check book and a fountain pen and commenced to +write. Mr. Harriman leaned behind Rosanna and watched. + +"Poh! Hum! Grrrrrr! Piker!" he said, and Mr. Cosgrove, laughing, tore up +his check and wrote another which he handed to Mr. Harriman. Rosanna did +not think it would be polite to look, but wondered what in the world +they were doing when they should have been listening to the music. + +"S'all right," said Mr. Harriman. "Girl's pretty lame, isn't she, +Rosanna?" + +"Gwenny can't walk at all," replied Rosanna, "and even at night her back +hurts so she can't sleep." + +"Poor little broken pot," said the third gentleman softly. "A pity that +the hand of the Potter slipped." + +"Save your poetry, Bristol!" grunted Mr. Harriman. "This talks better." +He struck the check book with his pen, and Mr. Bristol, borrowing a +page, wrote busily as the curtain rose. + +Rosanna, hoping they would forget business for a while, bent her eyes on +the stage. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +As the play progressed Rosanna commenced to doubt her own senses. It did +not seem possible that she could have written anything so good and so +interesting. + +When the act ended, there was a louder burst of applause than at any +other time, and to Rosanna's horror some one in the back of the room +commenced to cry, "Author, author!" Rosanna did not realize at first +that they meant her and was looking around the room with a great deal of +interest when she felt both Mr. Harriman and Mr. Cosgrove pushing her to +her feet. She stood up because they shoved her up, and she did not know +what to do next. + +Then the most amazing thing of all happened. + +Mr. Harriman rose to his feet and taking Rosanna firmly by the arm as +though she might dash off any instant, he started toward the three +little steps at one side of the stage. Up these steps he sternly piloted +Rosanna, while everyone in the room clapped and clapped again. All of +Louisville knew Mr. Harriman, and when everybody saw that _he_ was +escorting the little girl who had written the play, they sat quite still +to see what would happen next. When they reached the stage and stood +facing the audience, someone called, "Speech, speech!" but that was +'way, 'way beyond Rosanna, who was perfectly overcome anyway. She looked +pleadingly at Mr. Harriman, who knew what she meant, and took pity on +her. + +"Hum, grrrrrr," he commenced. "Ladies and gentlemen, this little lady, +who is the author and producer of the play you have just seen, asks me +to speak for her. She thanks you for your appreciation, and for the help +you are giving to herself and these other generous Girl Scouts in their +efforts to assist a girl less fortunate than themselves. You have heard +about the little cripple who is to be benefited by the work of these +girls, and I think we, the audience fortunate enough to be present at +this memorable occasion, will esteem it a pleasure to do what we can +toward making it possible for this little sufferer to obtain a possible +cure through a very serious and expensive operation. We thank you. +Grrrrrr!" He _glared_ at Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bristol, and bowed. +Rosanna dipped a hasty curtsey, and they went off the stage again as +everybody clapped and the music struck up the jolliest piece they knew. +The entertainment was over! + +Back with Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bristol, each old gentleman shook hands +with Rosanna and started for the door, where Uncle Robert, intent on the +most important part of all, sat at the table on which was a shoe box +with a slot cut in the cover. He was smiling and beaming and saying, +"Thank you!" over and over as people congratulated him on Rosanna's +play. Miss Hooker stood beside him looking so sweet and true and pretty +that when Mr. Harriman came up and looked at her, and started to say +"Grrrrrr," it actually sounded like a purr! He hastily shoved something +white through the slot, and Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bristol followed him, +looking very guilty. + +Then Mr. Harriman turned back. + +"Absolutely confidential, Horton! No newspapers!" he said. + +"Absolutely, sir, and thank you," said Uncle Robert, bowing to the +three. He commenced to suspect something! + +Miss Hooker stooped to whisper something to Robert. As soon as the last +person had left the hall, he obeyed the whisper, and taking the precious +box, which was sealed with red sealing wax where the cover went on, he +went behind the scenes. All the girls were there, as well as the sign +painter and the two brothers. These three looked immensely relieved when +a fourth member of their sex appeared. Mrs. Hargrave was there too, and +she was inviting everyone to walk over to her house and have something +to eat. She said she believed it was customary after the first +presentation of a play. + +When some of the girls said they would have to go home with their folks +on account of getting home with escort, Mrs. Hargrave at once added that +she had arranged with Mrs. Horton to send the girls home in their +automobiles. + +So very soon they were all in Mrs. Hargrave's immense dining-room, +sitting in chairs ranged round the room and being served chicken +bouillon and sandwiches, and fruit salad, and olives, and cocoa, and +ice-cream with whipped cream on top. All they could eat of each thing +too! + +"I can't wait to see the inside of that box," said Mrs. Hargrave after +all the Girl Scouts and the sign painter and the two brothers had said +good night and thank you, and had gone. "What if these children of ours +_do_ have to sleep half the day tomorrow? Telephone your mother, Miss +Hooker, that you are here with me, and that you will be home presently, +and we will go into the library and watch Robert count the money. And +whatever is lacking, when it comes to settling for that operation, Mrs. +Horton and I intend to make up." + +Robert Horton laughed. + +"I have an idea that you are on the safe side of the bargain, dear +lady," he said. "I think this box will surprise us." + +"How much do you suppose is in it?" asked Miss Hooker as she started for +the telephone. "A hundred dollars?" + +"Five hundred at the least," answered Uncle Robert. + +Everybody started to hurry for the library at that as though the money +in the box would have to be counted as rapidly as possible for fear it +might fly away. + +Uncle Robert happened to sit beside Miss Hooker again, but Rosanna sat +on the other side. He cut the sealing wax and opened the box. There was +all sorts of silver money there _except nickels_! There was not one +nickel. Dimes, quarters, fifty-cent pieces, and silver dollars, but not +a nickel. + +Uncle Robert placed the coins in neat piles, then he commenced to stack +the paper money. After he had done this, he sorted out five checks, +which he laid by themselves quite respectfully, face down. + +Then he drew out a pencil and paper and commenced to count. No one +spoke. At the last, still keeping the faces of the five checks out of +sight, he added them in, covered the paper with his hand, and looked up. +He seemed dazed. + +"How much do you think?" he demanded. + +"Don't make us guess, Robert," said his mother. + +"Two thousand, two hundred and thirty-four dollars and twenty-five +cents," he said slowly. + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Mrs. Hargrave sharply. + +Miss Hooker gave a gasp. The girls, perfectly round-eyed, sat silent. + +"There it is!" said Mr. Horton. "Mr. Bristol and Mr. Cosgrove each gave +a check for five hundred dollars, and Mr. Harriman wrote his for five +hundred and fifty." + +Mrs. Horton sniffed. + +"Dick Harriman never gave twenty-five dollars to anything like this in +his life," she said. + +"Well, here is his check," declared her son. + +"So _that_ is where the fifty came in," said Rosanna, finding her voice. +She repeated the conversation she had heard. Everybody laughed. + +"Poor Dick!" said Mrs. Hargrave. "He doesn't feel well, and his bark is +so bad that I doubt if anyone ever before stopped to see what his bite +was like until Rosanna tried. I reckon he is happier tonight than he has +been for a long while. He would think it was a great joke, too, to +cajole Henry Bristol and Clinton Cosgrove into giving that money. Well, +they can afford it many times over, so it will do them all good." + +"Too bad Rick MacLaren isn't here," said Uncle Robert. "He has a sick +patient on hand, and couldn't come. I will tell him the first thing in +the morning." + +"And these girls _must_ go to bed," said Mrs. Horton. "Are you going to +stay with Rosanna, Helen?" + +"I think I will just have to go home and tell mother and father about it +if there is any way for me to get there," replied Helen. + +"If Miss Hooker feels like the extra walk, we will take you on our way +to her house," said Uncle Robert eagerly. + +"I would love it," said Miss Hooker obligingly. + +Rosanna marvelled. + +Miss Hooker lived blocks away from Helen, in the opposite direction, but +as the older people said nothing, Rosanna kept silence. At all events +the benefit was over, and her Uncle Robert would no longer feel obliged +to spend all his time with a mere girl, because no matter how lovely, +Rosanna knew that he didn't care for girls. + +A number of girls ranging in age from twelve to sixteen were busy +repeating in a number of homes that night just how they had felt at +different times during the evening, and explaining to less fortunate +brothers and sisters how good everything had tasted afterwards. And +Sunday morning, a great many mothers had a difficult time getting their +Girl Scout daughters awake. + +Rosanna had a long talk with Uncle Bob. She wanted to know what was +going to be done about the money. + +"I have been thinking about that," said Uncle Robert. "I will put it in +the bank the first thing tomorrow morning. I shall put it in the office +bank for safe keeping until then." + +"Do you suppose it will take all of it for Gwenny's operation?" asked +Rosanna. + +"No, I do not," Robert replied, "but of course Doctor Branshaw is a very +high priced specialist, and he sets his own fees." + +"If he knew that Gwenny was a poor little girl and that the Girl Scouts +were taking care of her, I wonder if it would make any difference?" + +Uncle Robert shook his head. "I don't believe I would ask a favor of +anyone, now that you have earned such a lot of money. Just go ahead and +pay her way like good sports. At that, with the hospital charges and +nurses paid, I think you may have a little left over. If we have, we +will have to find the best way to spend it for Gwenny. I want to consult +with Miss Hooker about it later if she is not too tired." + +"Consult again! Oh, _poor_ Uncle Robert!" said Rosanna compassionately. +"I thought that was all over with." + +"It is not as painful as you seem to think," said Uncle Robert dryly. +"At all events, my health is not breaking under the strain. I never knew +you to fuss so, Rosanna. Just what have you up your sleeve anyhow? Don't +you like your Captain after all?" + +"Oh, I perfectly _love_ her," cried Rosanna warmly. "You don't know how +sweet she is, Uncle Robert! And she is such a good Captain. Every girl +in the patrol loves her and will do anything in the world for her." + +Seeing that Uncle Robert appeared to be listening, Rosanna went on +warming to her subject. + +"At the Rally, I heard one of the ladies say that our Captain was +considered the best one in all the city. And she looks so young; just +like one of the girls when she gets into her Scout uniform. When we are +on hikes, she runs around and plays with us and joins all our games. Oh, +yes, Uncle Robert, I do love her dearly!" + +"I don't know but what I do myself," admitted Uncle Robert unexpectedly. + +"Why, Uncle _Robert_!" said Rosanna in a shocked tone. "What a thing for +you to say!" + +Uncle Robert wondered if he had made a mistake. It was not the sort of a +remark he would want repeated. So he made another mistake. + +"Wasn't it? A joke, Rosanna; just a merry jest. Thought you would laugh +over it. Ha ha! Ha ha!" + +"Ha ha!" repeated Rosanna to be agreeable. Sometimes Uncle Robert was +rather disappointing. "But she is lovely anyway, and has loads and loads +of friends, and, Uncle Robert, I think she has a sweetheart because +boxes and boxes of flowers come to her, and she just keeps a little one +to wear, and sends all the rest to the hospital. And lovely books come +by mail and the fattest letters! One had poetry in it, too. I could tell +by the shape of the writing down the page." + +"Don't snoop, Rosanna," said Uncle Robert sharply. + +"I didn't, Uncle Robert," said Rosanna in a hurt tone. "She was sitting +close to me on the sofa, and I couldn't help seeing. She liked it too, +because she smiled so sweetly and showed all her dimples, even the one +that almost _never_ comes out." + +"What a little ray of sunshine you are, Rosanna!" said her uncle +strangely. + +"Thank you; a Girl Scout _ought_ to be," replied Rosanna. + +"Well, you are, all right, sweetness," said Uncle Robert. He sighed +deeply almost as though the ray of sunshine had not come his way at all. +He kissed Rosanna and then sat her down rather hard in a deep chair. "I +don't know when I have felt so cheered up. And now, if you would like to +call the garage and order the little car for me, I will go around to see +Doctor MacLaren and tell him the good news of our fortune. And on second +thoughts, I don't believe I will have to consult with Miss Hooker at +all. I think perhaps you are right. I have bothered her enough." + +"She has been _very_ polite and kind about it all, hasn't she?" asked +Rosanna. + +"Most polite and kind," Mr. Horton agreed. "But we don't want to wear +her kindness out, do we, Rosanna? I will go see Rick, and in a day or +two my part of this affair will be finished. And I won't have to bother +anybody. I am thinking of a little trip out West, Rosanna. I wish you +could go with me." + +"I wish I could!" said Rosanna, "but grandmother wouldn't want me to +leave school, and besides I couldn't leave the Scouts just now. Where do +you think of going, Uncle Robert?" + +"Nowhere in particular, unless--" he thought a moment. "It might be fun +to look up some place where they had never heard of the Girl Scouts." + +"Perfectly splendid!" said Rosanna. "_That_ would be doing a good deed. +You could tell the people about us, and start a patrol. I must tell Miss +Hooker about this; she will think it is so nice of you. She appreciates +kind acts, even if she doesn't like men." + +"It is not worth mentioning, Rosanna," answered Uncle Robert. "Besides, +I didn't have just that in mind. However, I hear the car and will leave +you before--before I do anything I regret." + +He went off, and Rosanna watched him through the window as he started +his car. He was real jerky with it, and it sputtered and missed, and +went off with a leap. + +"He is all tired out," thought Rosanna. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Time passed, a great many things happening. Gwenny, accompanied by her +mother (there being plenty of money for everything), was taken away to +the place of her great trial. When the question arose as to what should +be done with Mary and Tommy and Myron and Luella and Baby Christopher, +Rosanna thought of Minnie, always so good and kind. She went to see her, +and the result was that Minnie volunteered to stay at Gwenny's and run +the little house and take care of the children as long as Mrs. Harter +was needed in Cincinnati. Both Doctor MacLaren and Mr. Horton went with +Mrs. Harter and Gwenny, and made the journey as comfortable as they +possibly could. The great Doctor Branshaw, after seeing his patient, +said that she must have at least a week of rest under his own eye before +he would be willing to try the operation. So Gwenny was settled in a +sunny room at the hospital where she at once became the pet of the ward +and Doctor MacLaren and Mr. Horton came home. + +Late in the afternoon, the very next Sunday, Mr. Horton came into the +house looking the picture of gloom. He scarcely spoke to his mother and +Rosanna but rushed up to his room and immediately there was a sound of +things being dragged around, and many footsteps. And the door opened and +shut a great many times. Mrs. Horton wondered what that boy was up to +now and went on reading. But Rosanna listened with a black suspicion +growing in her mind. + +And, sure enough, Mr. Horton came down presently to announce that he was +going away for a few weeks. He was getting stale, he said, and needed a +little change. When he saw Rosanna's round eyes fixed on him, he looked +away but repeated that he felt stale. + +"It is that War," said his mother, as though the war should be severely +reprimanded. "Before you went into that war, you were always contented. +Now nothing contents you for long." + +"Perhaps you are right," admitted Robert absently. "At all events I can +be spared from the office just now better than at any other time, and I +am going to go away." + +And go he did an hour later. Mrs. Hargrave and Elise came in presently +to take Sunday night luncheon. + +"Where is Robert?" asked Mrs. Hargrave, seeing that no place was set for +him. + +"Gone off for a vacation," said his mother. + +"Dear me, isn't he well?" asked Mrs. Hargrave. + +"Perfectly, but he just took one of his notions and went." + +"Anything--er--happened, do you suppose?" questioned Mrs. Hargrave. +"Anything--er, _you_ know. Misunderstanding?" + +"Possibly," answered Mrs. Horton. "That is what I suspect. But I don't +_know_ anything." + +"Oh dear, oh dear!" cried Mrs. Hargrave, folding her fine old hands +together. "It is too bad! Can't something be done? Why, Robert is the +finest boy in this world! He is just what I dream my son would have been +if I had had one. Do you suppose one could say anything to the other +person?" + +"No, indeed," said Mrs. Horton. "I don't _know_, you see. I only +suspect." + +So Uncle Robert went away, and Gwenny was off at the hospital, and +Rosanna and Helen spent all their time drilling Elise in the +requirements of the Tenderfoot examination. Elise was quick to learn, +but she found more difficulty in learning this because her knowledge of +English was of course limited. The girls were anxious to make a +brilliant showing with their recruit. + +Over and over they drilled her in the Tenderfoot examination, at the +last requiring her to write the answers to the examination paper which +read as follows: + + TENDERFOOT EXAMINATION, + + WRITTEN. + + 1 a Give the Scout promise. + b What does the Scout motto mean? + + 2 Give the Scout laws in order. + + 3 a What is the purpose of the Scout movement? + b What does a Scout's honor mean? + c Give the meaning of one law. + d How and when should the Scout salute be given? + e Explain the Scout badge. + + 4 a Who made the American flag? + b Why was a flag needed? + c In what city was it made? What year? + d Name the committee appointed to design it. + + 5 a Quote General Washington's words about the flag. + b When was the flag officially adopted? + c Describe the first official flag of the stars and stripes. + + 6 a What do the stars represent? The stripes? + b For what do the colors, red, white and blue stand? + c How many stars has the flag now? What day is Flag day? + d When is a new star added and why? + + 7 Give fully the respect due the flag. + + 8 a What should Scouts do when the National Anthem is played? + b What should Civilians do at Retreat? Scouts? + + 9 a What is the United States Government? + b Who is at its head? + c Name the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. + +10 a Write America. + b Write The Star Spangled Banner (omitting 3rd stanza). + +Then followed the demonstration of knots and knot tying. Over and over +they drilled her, and Elise was an apt pupil. Her delicate little +fingers seemed to know of themselves what to do. + +"I am glad she is to _write_ that examination," sighed Helen the day +before Elise was to go to Captain Hooker and take her examination +formally. She was to be examined on Friday afternoon, and at the meeting +Saturday night she was to become a Tenderfoot Scout member of their +patrol. + +"What difference does it make whether she writes the exam, or recites +her answers?" returned Rosanna. "She speaks brokenly, of course, but +that does not matter." + +"All it matters is that no one could hear her speak of General +Washington the way she does in her funny broken English, without wanting +to scream. It is so funny." + +Funny or not, Elise went through her examination most successfully and +Saturday night accompanied Helen and Rosanna to the meeting at Miss +Hooker's house. Their little Captain had fitted up a room specially for +her girls, where they could keep their various documents and where the +seats, the neat desk for the secretary, and the standard for the big +silk flag did not need to be disturbed in the intervals between +meetings. + +Elise was thrilled beyond words. + +As they entered the room she saw that the two girls saluted their little +Captain. Not knowing if she was expected to salute before becoming a +Scout, Elise dropped a shy curtsey and followed Rosanna to a seat where +they awaited the full number of Scouts and the shrill whistle from the +Lieutenant which brought the meeting to order. + +"The first whistle means _Attention_," whispered Helen. + +Once again it sounded. + +"That is for Assembly," whispered Rosanna on the other side, as all the +girls rose. + +Leaving Elise in her seat, the Scouts formed in double ranks at a +distance of forty inches between ranks and an interval of sixty inches +between patrols. + +The eight girls who formed a patrol took their places in groups as +signified by the crosses. + + Patrol Patrol Patrol + XXXX XXXX XXXX + XXXX XXXX XXXX + Captain X X Lieutenant + +Elise found out afterward that number one in the front rank of each +patrol is the Patrol leader, and number four the Corporal. + +At the command "Company, attention!" from the little Captain, now +standing so straight and so stern that Elise scarcely recognized her, +the Company as a whole stiffened to attention. + +The Lieutenant, a tall, pretty girl of nineteen, then commanded, +"Corporals from Patrols!" and the three Corporals stepped forward two +paces, made two right turns, and stood facing the center of the patrol. +The Corporals then snapped out together, "Attention! Right Dress!" after +which they faced left, took two paces, made right turn, right face, and +looked critically down the line to see that it was perfectly straight. +After two short left steps to straighten the rear line, they faced +right, took four paces forward, and with two right turns got back in +position facing patrol and called the command "Front! Count off!" + +The Corporals then one after the other called the roll of her Patrol, +and finishing that, turned and reported to the Lieutenant that the +Patrol was formed, after which they returned to their places in the +ranks, and the Lieutenant, saluting the Captain, reported, "Captain, the +Company is formed." + +Inspection then followed. Each girl, saluting, stepped forward and her +hair, teeth, hands, nails, shoes and general appearance was scrutinized. + +Elise watched all this with great interest, interest which deepened as +the Captain commanded "Color guard, march!" and three girls stepped from +the ranks and stood side by side for a moment, then at a word of command +marched to the flag. There they saluted and marched back; when the +Captain and the Lieutenant faced about, and the Captain in her silvery +voice said: + +"The Flag of your Country; pledge allegiance!" + +With one voice the girls united in the beautiful pledge to the flag, "I +pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the republic for which it stands; +one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." + +Elise looked at the silken folds of the glorious red, white and blue +with tears in her eyes. How glad she was to make that pledge! Had not +that flag, the flag that was now her own, floated over the shell-racked +fields of France? Oh, she _loved_ it! + +The color guard returned, and the fresh young voices rose in the first +verse of America. + +"Scouts, your promise!" said the Captain. + + "To do my duty to God and to my country. + To help other people at all times. + To obey the laws of the Scouts." + +the voices rang out. + +"The laws!" said the Captain. + +Again the chorus of girls repeated: + + A Girl Scout's honor is to be trusted. + A Girl Scout is loyal. + A Girl Scout's duty is to be useful, and help others. + A Girl Scout is a friend to all, and a sister to every other Girl Scout. + A Girl Scout is courteous. + A Girl Scout keeps herself pure. + A Girl Scout is a friend to animals. + A Girl Scout obeys orders. + A Girl Scout is cheerful. + A Girl Scout is thrifty. + +"Dismissed!" said the little Captain and, breaking ranks, the girls went +to their seats where they sat talking in low tones until the sharp sound +of the Lieutenant's whistle called them to attention again. + +"Now I do come," said Elise to herself, and her heart commenced to +hammer in quite an alarming fashion. But it was not quite time for her +to rise. Looking at Rosanna, she saw her give a slight shake of the +head, and Elise leaned back in her seat while all the business of the +meeting was settled and plans made for some aid for a poor family living +near. + +One thing Elise noticed particularly. The girls present were widely +different in looks, and Elise with her delicate perceptions saw plainly +that they belonged in widely differing classes, so called. A few of the +girls, Rosanna among them, had the carefully cared for and delicately +nurtured look of the very rich. More were like Helen, clean, carefully +groomed and almost precise in her dress and accessories. Others were +very evidently poor, with rough little hands that already told the story +of hard work and few toilet creams. But whoever they were, they saw no +difference in each other. They were Girl Scouts in the fullest and best +sense of the word: sisters pledged to each other, and living up to that +pledge in all earnestness and honor. + +Elise, waiting for her summons to go forward, and understanding nothing +of the business that was going on, threw her thoughts backward. She saw +herself the idolized child of the gay, rich young couple in the great +chateau, where long painted lines of powdered and frilled and armor-clad +ancestors looked down at her from the long galleries, and where dozens +of willing servants danced to do her bidding. Then the picture changed, +and with the roll of drums and the thunder of cannon she saw the hated +foe march across her land, destroying as they came. Father, mother, +grandmother, home, riches; all went down as under a devouring tide. Then +the promises of her Monsieur Bob, and after long, long weary days spent +with the ladies of the Red Cross came the journey into the Unknown, that +trip across an ocean that was to forever separate her from a past that +was too terrible for a little girl to have known. + +To have found refuge in Mrs. Hargrave's tender arms, to have won such +love and such friends--to be able to be a Girl Scout-- + +Elise turned her eyes, brimming with sudden tears, to the flag. + +"Never, _never_ will I zem disappoint!" she whispered tenderly, using as +best she could the unfamiliar words of her adopted tongue. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +At last Elise saw the Captain glance in her direction as the whistle +blew once more for attention and the Captain commanded, "Fall in!" A +look of serious interest appeared on the faces of the girls as they +formed in a horseshoe, the Captain and the Lieutenant standing in the +gap and the American flag spread out before them. + +Elise, with Helen beside her, walked to a place just inside the circle +and stood facing the Captain. In the Lieutenant's hands were the staff +and hat, the shoulder knot, badge and neckerchief of the Tenderfoot +Elise. + +She could not refrain from a glance at them. How she had longed to wear +all those things; the insignia of everything she had learned to admire +and look up to in the girls of America! + +"Salute!" said the Captain. + +All saluted Elise, who stood waiting for some order, she did not know +what. + +"Forward!" said the Captain to Helen, and the two girls stepped to the +center. + +Regarding Elise with a long, careful glance, and speaking carefully, so +the little French girl should miss nothing of the full meaning of her +words, the Captain asked: + +"Do you know what your _honor_ means?" + +"Yess," said Elise, finding her voice after what seemed to her an +endless time. "Yess, it does mean that always I shall be trusted to be +faithful and true and honorable." + +"Can I trust you," asked the Captain, "on your honor, to be loyal to God +and your country, to help other people at all times, and to obey the +Scout Law?" + +Elise, coached by Helen and Rosanna, made the half salute in unison with +the whole company, as she answered, "I do promise on my honor to be +loyal to God and my country, to help other people at all times and to +obey the Scout Law." + +"I trust you on your honor to keep this promise," answered the Captain. + +The circle of girls listened with respectful and solemn interest. Well +they realized that the vow being given was not an empty or idle one. +They knew that it entailed hard work, self-denial, and many hardships. +Yet they gloried in it, and silently renewed their own vows as they +heard the Tenderfoot make her promises. + +"Invest!" came the Captain's next order. + +Stepping forward, the Lieutenant gave Elise her staff, and put the hat, +handkerchief and knot on her, and smiled as Elise said, "I thank you!" +in her pretty way. + +Then, at a whispered word, she marched up the line to the Captain who +pinned on her trefoil badge and explained that it was an emblem of her +Scout "life." If for any misbehavior, the trefoil or "life" must be +taken away from her, she would become a dead Scout for the time the +Captain ordered and for that time in disgrace. + +The new Scout was then initiated into all the secret passwords, a +proceeding which filled Elise with despair; she felt that she would +never be able to remember the queer words and phrases. + +Then with the ceremony of marching back to their proper patrols the +ceremony was over, and in a moment the formal meeting was dismissed. + +The girls crowded around, all anxious to meet the new Tenderfoot and +welcome her. They talked to her so hard that Elise felt her head whirl. +She was glad to hear the voice of the little Captain suggesting a song. +She handed a leaflet to Elise, but the girls knew the songs, and +gathering in a circle they wanted to know which one to sing. + +"Sing _The Long, Long Line_," suggested the Captain, and the girls sang: + + THE LONG, LONG LINE + + (Tune: The Long, Long Trail) + + Recruiting song. + + Do you feel a little lonely? + Are your friends too few? + Would you like to join some jolly girls + In the things you think and do? + Don't you know your Country's waiting? + Have you heard her call? + See, the Scouts are crowding, crowding in, + Where there's room for one and all! + + Chorus + + There's a long, long line a-growing, + From north to south, east to west, + There's a place awaiting in it, too, that you'll fill best. + We are sure you'd like to join us + If you knew what we can do + And we'd like, O how we'd like to make a good Girl Scout of you. + +It certainly sounded sweet as the fresh young voices blended, and Elise +thrilled as she listened. She was having such a good time! All the girls +seemed so friendly and so sweet, with the exception of one girl who hung +back and on whose face there rested the shadow of discontent and +dissatisfaction. Elise found herself wondering about her; she seemed so +out of place in that happy, merry throng. But none of the other girls +appeared to notice that one of their number sat apart and occupied +herself rather ostentatiously over a book. + +They were all so busy making the evening pass pleasantly for the +charming new Tenderfoot who responded so prettily to their advances that +no one spoke or looked at the silent Scout, but presently Elise noticed +that the little Captain sat down beside her and compelled her attention. +Even then the girl looked as though she preferred to be let alone. + +For a long while, the girls sat and told Elise about their work and play +and the camping in summer and the delightful hikes all the year. Finally +it came time to go home and some one called for another song. + +"Which shall it be, Elise?" asked Helen. "You choose one of the songs." + +"I see one follows the air of the _Old Colored Joe_," said Elise. "I do +know that loving song. Please to sing that; and if I may, I will try to +sing it also." + +"Of course we will sing that, you dear," laughed the tall young +Lieutenant, and together they sang: + + WE'RE COMING + + (Tune: Old Black Joe) + + Camping Song. + + I + + Come where the lake lies gleaming in the sun; + Come where the days are filled with work and fun. + Come where the moon hangs out her evening lamp; + The Scouts are trooping, trooping, trooping back to camp. + + Chorus + + We're coming! We're coming! To the lakes, the hills, the sea! + Old Mother Nature calls her children--you and me. + + II + + Come where we learn the wisdom of the wood; + Come where we prove that simple things are good, + Come where we pledge allegiance to our land; + America, you've called your daughters--here we stand. + + Chorus + + We're coming! We're coming! 'Til we spread from sea to sea, + Our country needs us--wants us--calls us--you and me! + +"That is so _most_ lovely," said Elise as the song was finished, never +for a moment realizing that her own pure and bell-like voice had added +richness and beauty to the song. + +The other girls looked at each other and smiled. Here was indeed a find. +Never had there come a Scout to the council with such a wonderful voice. +They felt that the pretty young Tenderfoot was a great acquisition to +their number. So they all crowded around and said good night,--all but +the silent Scout who had not joined in the jollity. Elise and Rosanna +and Helen filled the two automobiles that were waiting for them with the +girls. Never, never had those big cars been so crowded. Certainly they +had never held happier passengers. But there was no noise or +boisterousness, no singing or whistling. The girls chatted in tones that +were agreeably low and as each one reached her destination, she thanked +Rosanna or Elise. When the last passenger in the Hargrave car had been +set down, Elise leaned back in a corner and thought deeply. She was +happy beyond words. + +To do good to someone every day; that was part of her pledge. Such an +easy part! But it was hard _not_ to be good when everyone was so good to +her. Then suddenly she thought of the sulky face of the girl at the +meeting. + +All the time she was telling Mrs. Hargrave about the installation and +the songs, and trying them over for her, she saw the dark, discontented +face before her. She could not feel perfectly happy because somehow the +face seemed to send her a message. "Help me; help me!" Elise heard in +her soul. But what could she, a stranger, a girl who could scarcely +speak the new language, what _could_ she do for that girl? And besides, +why did she _need_ help? Elise, whose bright eyes saw everything, had +noted the beautiful silk stockings, the texture of the black hair +ribbon, and at the last, the expensive fur that edged her coat. Also a +car had come for her, in which she went off alone. It was not poverty, +at all events, decided Elise. She could walk; she was not lame like the +poor little blond in the corner. As Elise thought it over, she puzzled +more and more. She decided to ask Rosanna or Helen next day; then a +better decision came to her. She would find out for herself. No one +should tell her. Then if she made any mistake, why, the mistake would be +hers. + +But the next day but one the plot thickened. She went over with Rosanna +to see Miss Hooker about some Scout work, and as they stood on the steps +waiting for the door to open, it did open with a jerk, and the girl +Elise had been worrying about dashed down the steps and into her +limousine. Her face was disfigured with tears. + +"Dear me!" said Rosanna. "What do you suppose has happened to Lucy +Breen? She has been crying." + +"Assuredly. The _petite pauvre_ one!" answered Elise sadly. + +Rosanna with her usual directness asked Miss Hooker the moment they +entered what was the matter with Lucy. + +Miss Hooker hesitated. "You really ought not ask a question like that, +Rosanna," she said finally, "but perhaps I ought to tell you. You will +all have to know." + +"Please _don't_ tell me, Miss Hooker," Rosanna begged with a deep flush. +"I thought perhaps someone had died or something like that." + +"No, but for a week Lucy must be a dead Scout herself." + +"How _awful_!" cried both girls, and then were silent. + +"I prefer not to tell you why just now, but of course this will not make +you shun her. You must show all the kindness and consideration that you +can for her, and be with her all you can." More than that Miss Hooker +did not seem to want to say, and the girls, saddened and quiet, finished +their errand and left. + +A day or two later, going with Mrs. Hargrave to the Red Cross rooms down +town, Elise thought she saw Lucy Breen shrink out of sight behind some +portieres at the back of the store that the Red Cross used as a sales +room. + +Elise acted on a generous impulse. She went back through the store +looking at one thing and another until she in turn came to the +portieres. Behind them was a space used for a sort of store-room for +articles brought into the shop, and as Elise looked curiously through +the curtains as though wondering what lay beyond, she saw Lucy standing +in a corner, crowded against the wall. Elise nodded gaily. + +"Are you what they call making the sort of things in here, Lucy?" she +cried. "Is it not fun to see what the good kind people give away?" + +She stepped into the store-room as she spoke, smiling and nodding. "Yes, +it is droll, some of the things," she chattered on, as though Lucy was +doing her share in the conversation. Finally, however, like a little +clock, Elise ran down. She could not think of a single thing to say +further, and she trailed off, looking shyly into Lucy's dark face. + +Lucy was smiling a set and bitter smile. + +"Don't you think you had better get out of this and leave me?" she +asked. "Perhaps you don't know that I have lost my badge. I shall be a +dead Scout for a week, and I don't care in the least whether I ever wear +it again or not." + +Elise came close and laid a hand on Lucy's shoulder, but the girl shook +it off. + +"_Don't!_" she said pettishly. + +"I knew that you had resigned your badge for the so small time of a +week," said Elise gently, "but one week soon passes." + +"Do you know _why_ I lost it?" asked Lucy harshly. + +"No," said Elise, "and I do not so much care. That is for you to know, +and our dear Captain. I am just so so sorry that you are unhappy. But +you will be happy again. Always unhappiness goes away. We do not forget, +but it ceases to wound. And if the fault makes you so unhappy, why, +certainly you will never, never so do again; will you, dear Lucy?" + +To her surprise and dismay, Lucy turned and, hiding her face in her +arms, leaned against the cracked old wall and sobbed. + +"Oh, I _am_ unhappy!" she cried. "I am unhappy, and I don't know what to +do! Sometimes I think I will run away!" + +"Oh, don't do that; don't do that!" cried Elise. "Think of your dear +mama and your father. Oh, you could never have a fault that would make +you need to do anything that would make them so unhappy!" + +Lucy laughed her bitter little laugh. + +"I think I will tell you what has happened," she said, "and then you can +see just how I feel." + +"Can you not tell to someone more wise than I?" asked Elise, her dismay +growing. "I will be so glad to listen, but for advice, I am so ignorant, +so what you call it? I speak your English so poorly, that maybe I say to +you the wrong thing." + +"You needn't say anything," said Lucy. "You were so good to come and +speak to me, and I want to talk to someone. I had advice from Miss +Hooker but I shall not take it." + +"Was it not good advice?" asked Elise, who thought every word that Miss +Hooker uttered was a pearl of wisdom. + +"I suppose so," said Lucy with a sneer, "but she does not understand. +Oh, Elise, I shall _die_, I am so unhappy." + +"No," said Elise softly, "you will not die so. If it could be, I would +be dead long since but I am not, and I am happy--so very, very happy +just as my most dear ones who are dead would wish me to be. So it will +be with you." + +"I want to talk to you," said Lucy. + +"Let us sit here then," said Elise, "where no one comes. There is a what +you call 'meeting' which my maman is here to attend. It goes on in the +upstairs, and she told me it would meet for an hour or two. Tell me all +your woe." + +She pulled Lucy down on a pile of velvet curtains and patting her hot +little hand, said softly, "I wait." + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +"When I was only two years old, my real mamma died," Lucy commenced, +"and papa's sister, who was a great deal older than papa, came to take +care of us. I had a brother five years older than I. Aunt Mabel was so +kind to us, and let us do just as we pleased about everything. I don't +see why things could not have gone on like that always, because as soon +as I grew up I intended to take charge of the house and run it for papa. +I am thirteen now so it wouldn't have been long before I could have done +it. But when I was ten years old, my brother died, and after that, papa +stayed away from the house all he could, although Auntie Mabel was +always talking to him about his duty to me. + +"Well, one day, when I was eleven years old, papa came home, and the +very minute I saw his face I knew something had happened. + +"'Goodness, papa,' I said, 'you look as though you had had good news!' +'I have, my dear,' he said, and then somehow as I looked at him I had +such a funny feeling. All at once I didn't want to _know_ what made him +look so glad. So I just sat there and said nothing. + +"'Don't you want to know what it is?' he said, and I said, 'I don't know +whether I do or not.' + +"Papa came over and put his head down on my shoulder the way he used to +when he called me his little comforter, and said, 'Oh, yes, Lucy, you +want to know! Please say you want to know what your daddy has to tell +you.' + +"So I said, 'All right,' and Elise, he was going to get married! Oh, I +just hated it! He told me lots about the lady. She was from Boston, and +that was why I had never seen her, and had never heard about it. She had +never been in Louisville. He said she was beautiful, and she did look +nice in the picture he had in his pocket case, and he said she was just +as lovely as she could be. I just sat there and let him talk, and +finally he said, 'Well, chicken, what do you think about it?' I don't +know what made me say what I did. Somehow it popped out before I +thought. I said, 'Are you sure she isn't marrying you for your money?' + +"And papa sort of stiffened up and looked hard at me, and finally he +said in a queer voice, 'Good Lord, how old are you?' I said, 'I am +eleven,' and he said, 'Well, you sound like Mrs. Worldly Wiseman, aged +fifty. I suppose you will feel better if I say that the lady has more +money than I have, and that I will be lucky if people do not claim that +_I_ have been the fortune hunter.' + +"'Well, what _is_ she going to marry you for?' I asked. 'She says she +loves me,' papa said. I said, 'We don't want her here! We are getting +along all right.' Oh, I didn't mean to be so ugly, but somehow I _hated_ +to have papa marry anyone, and I didn't know this lady. So papa went off +awfully cross at me and the next person was Auntie Mabel. Papa had told +me first; he thought he ought to, and then he went up and told Aunt +Mabel. She came down pretty soon. I was right there in the big chair, +trying to imagine what it would be like to have a stranger in the house. + +"Auntie said, 'Well, Lucy, what do you think of the news?' I said, 'It +is nothing to us; we can keep in our rooms most of the time.' + +"'I can't,' said Aunt Mabel, 'because I shall leave when she comes. Not +that I have the slightest objection, but all the same off I go. I knew +it would happen sooner or later, but Henry waited so long that I hoped +he was going to let well enough alone. But men are all alike!' And she +_did_ go, Elise, the very day before papa brought the lady home. And I +_couldn't_ go because there was no place for me to go and Auntie +wouldn't take me with her because she said it would make papa angry. So +I had to stay whether I wanted to or not. It was perfectly awful!" + +"Poor, poor Lucee!" murmured Elise, patting the hand she held. + +"I was expecting to see a lady 'most as old as Auntie, and papa came up +the steps with somebody _young_. Why, she was _awfully_ young, and had +as much powder on her nose as anybody. I was looking through the +curtains, and when I saw them coming, I ran upstairs and hid. Papa +hunted and called, but I wouldn't answer, and I heard him getting angry, +and then she said, 'Don't mind, Henry; it is the most natural thing in +the world. Let me find her, I know just where to look,' and papa said in +the silliest way, 'Go ahead, darling, the house is yours, and the child +too if you will have such a bad one.' + +"Well, Elise, she came up those stairs and straight to the table I was +under, as though someone had told her! The cover went down to the floor, +and she lifted it up, and said 'Coop!' but I came out crosser than ever, +and we had a horrid time. + +"So that is the way it went. Worse and worse all the time. Papa was not +cross with me because she wouldn't let him be, and I felt pretty mean to +think a stranger had to tell my own father how to treat me. At first she +tried to act so sweet to me, and used to want to play with me. I told +her I thought it was silly, but she said she had lots of brothers and +sisters, and they always romped around together and had a fine time, and +she said if I would only be friends we could have such larks. I told her +I hoped I was polite and all she said was to wonder where I got my +disposition. + +"At first they used to make me stay down with them at night after +dinner, but by and by I was allowed to go upstairs. I said I wanted to +study. I always kept a study book open on the table, and would go to +reading it as soon as they came up. Papa used to come in once in awhile, +and she was always asking me if she could help me with my lessons. She +said she used to help her brothers. + +"After a year, one of the brothers came to visit. He was a real nice +boy, and I would have liked him only he was so silly about her; used to +want to be with her all the time, and put his arm around her and all +that! We had a real good time though, and I thought that I had been real +nice to her before him until the day he went home. I was in the library, +and he came in. I was just going to ask him to put his autograph in my +album when he said: 'Gee, you are a disagreeable little mutt! My sister +would half kill me for saying it, but honest, I don't see how she stands +you!' + +"Of course I just walked out of the room. I knew then that she had been +telling things about me. And I knew that must be the reason why papa was +so different to me." + +"But _was_ he?" asked Elise wonderingly. + +"Yes, he was, and Miss Hooker says it is all my fault. I had been coldly +polite to her for a good while before that. I read about a girl who was +abused by a stepmother and the girl was too noble to abuse her in +return. She was just 'coldly polite,' the book said, and so was I. But +after that horrid boy went home I let myself be as mean as I could." + +Elise nodded. "I saw it in your face," she said. + +"And the more I thought of it, the more I was able to _act_ ugly. It is +so funny, Elise, the way she makes everybody like her. Papa just gets +worse all the time, and the servants _adore_ her, and she is so popular +with all the people who come to the house. She makes them all like +her--all but me." + +"We will talk about that later," said Elise. + +Lucy sighed. "Well, things have been getting worse and worse, but I +think we have both tried to keep it from papa. We hate each other, but +we don't want him to know how bad things are in the house. Papa is not +happy, though. Oh, he has talked and talked to me and threatened to send +me to school, and I always tell him I wish he would. But the other day +the worst happened. Papa had gone to the office, and I was reading in +the library, and she was walking around and around, fussing and singing +under her breath and sort of acting happy. It made me so mad. Presently +she saw me looking at her, and she said, 'Don't you wonder why I am +singing?' and I said, 'No, I had not noticed.' She went right on: 'I +have had some good news, wonderful news, and I wonder if you would like +to hear it, Lucy?' + +"I said, 'I am not at all interested,' and went right on looking at my +book. She came over and leaned down on the table close to my face, and +stared and stared at me. She said, 'Look at me, you bad, difficult, +cruel child, look at me and tell me why you are bound to hate me so!' I +never saw anyone look so angry. Then her face changed and got pleasant +again, and she said, 'What have I _done_? Your own mother, if she can +see this house and its unhappy inmates, knows that I have tried to make +friends with you.' + +"I remembered how furious the girl in the book was when her stepmother +spoke of her mother, and I raised my hand and slapped her." + +"Oh, oh, oh!" cried Elise, covering her eyes. "The poor, poor lady!" + +Lucy went doggedly on. + +"Of course I had no business to do that. She went to her room, and +stayed there all day, and when papa came home he went right up. I was on +my way to my room, and I heard him say, 'I don't believe it is a +headache at all. I think Lucy must have been annoying you,' and she +said, 'No,' and papa said, 'I shall send that child away to school.' And +she said, 'No, give us one more chance. I am going to see Miss Hooker, +her Scout Captain, and see if her influence is strong enough to make +Lucy see things in the right way.' As soon as I heard that I made up my +mind to see the Captain first, so I went over and that was the day I saw +you on the steps. We had had a long, long talk and she said I was all +wrong and took away my trefoil. So here I am a dead Scout, and I am so +unhappy that I don't know what to do and I am going to run away. I want +you to have my pony. I am going to send it over to your house tomorrow." + +"No, no, no!" cried Elise. "Everything is wrong; so wrong! Oh, let me +think! That poor, poor lady! I am so, so sorry for her." + +"Sorry for _her_!" cried Lucy. "There is no need to be sorry for _her_! +I am the one to be sorry for. _She_ has everything." + +"Why has she?" asked Elise. "She has nothing that you have not. She has +your most dear papa; so have you. You both have a most lovely home, +everything beautiful, friends, comfort. You are safe in a great land, +where no enemy may come and keel all you love. You have both the same +things. You share them." She sat thinking. "Yes, she is the one to be +sorry for, because she is so disappoint. When she go to marry your +_pere_, she have something promised that she never gets and so she is +full of mournsomeness." + +"She has everything papa can get for her," said Lucy bitterly. "I wish +you could see the pearls he gave her the other day." + +"Pearls!" said Elise scornfully. "What are pearls? He promised her +something only _you_ could give her, and now she has it not, and she is +sad, and you are sad; everybody sad. What do you call her?" + +"I don't call her anything," said Lucy stubbornly. "I wait until she +looks at me and then I say what I want to say." + +"Foolish, foolish one," said Elise, "That is what no one likes. Besides, +it is what you call rude not to speak the name. Most rude!" She saw a +frown deepen on Lucy's brow and gently pressed her hand. + +"You wanted to tell me, did you not?" she said softly. "Now I want to +tell you what I have not so many times told because I cannot speak of it +unless my heart feels like it does bleed. I have had _such_ sorrows, and +have seen such dreadfulness; I have been so cold, and hongry, and +frightened. I have lived in the wet underground for so long time that +all this makes a differentness in me from you. Something in me feels +most old and weary. I keep it shut up because my darling Maman Hargrave +wants me a happy child, and I want it for myself, but I do feel the +oldness when I see others unhappy when they could so easily be full of +joy. No, let me talk!" she added, as Lucy tried to speak. + +"I must say this, I feel it on me, to save that poor lady her happiness. +I shall be sorry for you some other day, but now I am most sad for her. +When she marry your papa, she think all the time that she is going to +have a most sweet daughter because that is how your dear papa would tell +her of you, and then what happens? You know. + +"Oh, Lucee, dear, _dear_ Lucee, there is one thing you must give to her, +right now today quick." + +"What is that?" said Lucy, startled by Elise's vehemence. + +"_LOVE!_" cried Elise, her sweet voice thrilling. "Love! So easy, so +sweet! Please, my Lucee, do not turn away. I know I am right on account +of the oldness in my heart. That tells me. Think how most glad your own +mother is to have the pretty one taking such good care of your papa and +of you. Does she select your clothes?" + +"Yes," said Lucy. + +"They are always the prettiest," said Elise. "No other girl is so +chic--what you call stunning. And so modest, so quiet. And you yourself +say everyone but you loves her. You too must love her, and the best of +all. You _must_! You are a Scout, and so you do always the right thing. +Where is she now?" + +"Home, I suppose. I came down to bring some of my last winter's dresses. +Oh, Elise, even if I could, it is too late. I _can't_ go back to the +beginning again and start over." + +"Of course not," said Elise wisely. "It is a most bad waste of time when +we try going back to beginnings. It is better to start right from here. +_Anywhere_ is the best place to start. When you go home you start then! +You start here by making some new sweet thoughts in your heart. Dear +Lucee, please try! Please, for the sake of your Elise who also has to +try to be always happy and not remember those blackness behind her. +Won't you, please? I know I am right. Will you try to give her love?" + +Lucy, the tears pouring down her cheeks, leaned her head against the +shoulder near her. + +"I don't see how I _can_," she said huskily. "But I will try. I am so +sick of everything the way it is." + +"Of course you are!" said Elise. "One is always seek of wrong. It makes +a blackness over everything." + +"What will I do? How will I begin?" + +"I cannot tell you," said Elise. "You will know what to do. Something +will tell you. Something always tells. I think it is _le bon Dieu_. Just +trust and you will know what to do and to say. Come, let us go. I hear +the meeting talking itself down the stairs. Is your car waiting?" + +"Yes," said Lucy dully as she allowed Elise to lead her through the +store. "Oh, Elise, I _don't_ love her, and I don't know what to do!" + +"It is because of the hatefulness you put in your heart long ago that +you do not love her," said the wise, sad little girl who had suffered +beyond her years. She stood at the door of the limousine and smiled at +the little girl who sank back so wearily. + +"Don't forget it is _now_ we make those beginnings. And you owe her what +your dear papa promised her, your love." She stepped back with a wave of +her hand as the machine started away. + +Lucy's heart throbbed violently as she approached her home. Her one hope +was that Mrs. Breen was out, so the moment might be delayed. But as she +passed the door of the library she saw Mrs. Breen lying in a low +lounging chair. How pale she looked! Lucy was quite startled to see the +look of suffering and weakness on the beautiful young face. She had been +too blind to notice what had been worrying her father of late. Was it +_her_ fault? Had _her_ actions brought her self-made enemy so low? Lucy +was shocked. + +She went up and put away her wraps. Still she did not know what to do or +what to say. Twice she passed the library door. No thought came to her. +She went in, not speaking, and selected a book at random from the +nearest shelf. Mrs. Breen did not speak but her great blue eyes seemed +to follow Lucy appealingly. Then Lucy found her courage. What she said +was rough and crude but it came from the heart--an honest statement and +appeal for tolerance and understanding. She came, clutching her book, +and stood facing Mrs. Breen. + +Her voice sounded so husky and shaken that she did not know it for hers. + +"Mamma," she said, stumbling over the unfamiliar word. "Mamma, you know +I do not like you, but I am going to try to love you!" + +And then, clasping her book with both hands, she fled. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Years had passed before Mrs. Breen and Lucy ever found the courage to +speak of that day when Lucy had hurried from the room, leaving Mrs. +Breen too surprised to follow her, or even speak. She sat thinking, so +glad and so happy and so proud of the courage shown by Lucy. She heard +the front door close softly and was not surprised, a little later, to +have one of the maids come and tell her that Miss Lucy had telephoned +that she was at Mrs. Hargrave's, and would stay for supper with Elise. + +Mrs. Breen sat thinking for an hour, then the right thought came to her. +She hastened to the telephone and had a long talk with her husband, and +after a good deal of argument, she went to her room, packed a small +trunk, ordered the car, had a talk with the housekeeper, and went out. +She drove to her husband's office, and he ushered her into his private +room. + +"Now what is all this?" he demanded. + +"I told you over the telephone what happened in the library," Mrs. Breen +said. "My dear, I am _so_ happy and so proud of Lucy! But there will be +the most distressing awkwardness for a little, unless something out of +the ordinary happens to help her out. Now I have never been away without +you since we were married. So I have decided to give the child a chance +to regain her poise and strengthen her new resolutions. Something has +changed her, and I am contented to accept it without question until the +time comes when she will tell me of her own accord. I will go home for a +week, and you must spend all the time you can with Lucy. And when you +feel like it, speak well of me." + +"That will be a hard job," said her husband, smiling. + +"I suppose so," said Mrs. Breen. "Another thing, to keep her interest in +me, if you should decide to repaper my room and want to _surprise_ me, I +would be perfectly satisfied with Lucy's taste." + +So when Lucy came in that night, dreading the next step toward the +right, she found only her father reading under the library light. + +"Hello, Donna Lucia," he said, looking up. "Did you know that we are +orphans?" + +"No," said Lucy. "What has happened?" + +"Mamma decided very suddenly that she had to go home to Boston to attend +to some matters, and she did not have time to telephone you or call +around at Mrs. Hargrave's. But she managed to stop in at the office, and +she has left me in your charge." + +Lucy heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, she would have a little +time to herself anyway. + +A couple of days later Mr. Breen approached the subject of the new +wall-paper. He merely _approached_ it, because at the first mention Lucy +fairly flung herself on it and appropriated it. The very thing, she +decided. She thought that room was about as shabby as it could be. Could +she select the paper? Of course she could! She knew exactly what mamma +would like. + +At her use of the word mamma, Mr. Breen's heart leaped. He had been a +patient, but very unhappy man, and the thought that his little household +might become united was the greatest happiness he could imagine. So he +grumbled out that he was glad of that, because he never could tell the +_least_ thing about the silly strips of paper they showed in the stores, +and Lucy could go ahead and get whatever she wanted. + +But the following morning, when a van backed up to the door and a couple +of men commenced to take away all the prettiest wicker furniture in the +house he demanded some explanation. + +"Why, they have to be painted for mamma's new room," said the practical +Miss Breen. "You said I could go ahead, and I have gone!" + +"All our furniture has gone too, I should say," said Mr. Breen. + +"Just the best of the wicker," answered Lucy. "I thought and thought all +last night, and I have decided just what would be the _loveliest_ thing +in the world for her, with her violet blue eyes and golden hair. So when +you were shaving I telephoned for the men to come and take the chairs +and tables and that chaise-longue and they are all going to be painted. + +"And today you had better write her that you think it would be a good +thing, as long as she is there, to stay another week. Don't let her +suspect, but _don't_ let her come home." + +"Very well," said Mr. Breen with a twinkle in his eye, but outwardly +very meek. "Just as you say. Send the bills to me." + +"Oh, I was going to," said Lucy with the happiest laugh he had heard +from her for months. + +Mr. Breen did not come home for luncheon, and every day Lucy managed to +have Elise or Rosanna or Helen take that meal with her. + +Lucy worked like mad and nearly wore the workmen out, she hurried them +so. Mrs. Breen decided to make a longer stay, but even then there was +but little time, because Lucy had decided that all the woodwork must be +re-enameled. When that was done and the paper on, she cast aside the old +rug with scorn, and took the three girls downtown to buy others. As the +days went on, Lucy found that her point of view was wholly changed. She +was so intent on the beautiful surprise she was planning that it seemed +to sweep her mind clean of all the dark and unworthy feelings that had +filled it. She even wrote to Mrs. Breen at a suggestion from Elise, a +pleasant friendly letter, ending, "With love, Lucy." + +And to her surprise Mrs. Breen answered the letter at once, with a long +one all about her visit, and enclosing funny little cartoons of each one +of the family, including the boy who had spoken his mind to Lucy. +Strange to say, Lucy was able to acknowledge the truth of the young +man's remark. + +"Some day," said Lucy to herself, "if this turns out all right, I will +tell him that he was _perfectly right_." + +Lucy was coming to think, with a sense of deep chagrin, that she herself +had been the one in the wrong. And being an honest girl and wanting very +humbly and deeply to live up to the pledge of the Girl Scouts, she was +growing most anxious to make good her faults. + +So she drove the painters and paperhangers and upholsterers almost wild, +and had the happiness of seeing the beautiful room all settled and in +order two days before Mrs. Breen was expected. It had a hard time +staying settled however, because Lucy spent all her time after school +trying things in new places to see if they looked any better. Her father +vowed that he would go up and nail the things down, but he was just as +proud and pleased as Lucy. + +With all the planning and plotting, and various jaunts to the shops +together, and to some movies and once to the theatre, Lucy and her +father had entered a new epoch in their lives. They too seemed to have +forgotten the past. + +As Elise said, they found that they could make a beginning anywhere. And +once begun, they found that it was like a door that had opened into a +beautiful place full of happiness and sunshine--a door that closed +softly behind them and shut out all the despair and gloom on the other +side. + +When the day came for Mrs. Breen's return, Mr. Breen insisted on Lucy +coming to meet her, and Lucy, in whom some of the old dread seemed +struggling to awake, went silently. But when she was suddenly caught in +a warm embrace, before even her father was greeted, and when a sweet +voice said, "Oh, what a _long_ two weeks it has been, Lucy! _Do_ say you +have missed me!" Lucy felt that all was indeed well with her world. + +Mrs. Breen had brought another brother with her: a shy, awkward boy, +evidently frightened to death of Lucy, a fact which of course set her +completely at her ease. They drove home, and Lucy and her father dogged +Mrs. Breen's footsteps up the stairs when she said she would go and take +off her things. Not for worlds would they have missed seeing her first +look at the newly decorated room. And it was worth all the trouble to +witness her delight and appreciation. + +So Happiness and Love and Understanding came into the Breen home. Lucy +wore her trefoil with a new gratitude and a new understanding. Elise +felt a happiness that she had thought she could never feel, for she had +helped a sister Scout through a dark and dreadful place in her life. +Mrs. Breen was so happy that she sang and sang all the day long, and +when one day a baby boy set up a lusty roar in the beautiful room that +Lucy had made, it was Lucy who named him, and Lucy who assumed such airs +of superiority in speaking of "my baby brother" that the girls grew to +avoid the subject of children in general as it was sure to bring from +Lucy some anecdote to prove the vast superiority and beauty of the Breen +baby. + +Rosanna was happy too. Uncle Robert had been away longer than Rosanna +liked. She was surprised to find how much she missed Uncle Robert. And +much as she loved him, and wanted him to be happy, she decided that it +was really a good thing that he did _not_ care for girls. The various +uncles who did like girls she noticed had a way of marrying one of them +and leaving home for good. That was a poor plan, thought Rosanna, as she +felt the silence in the big old house. No number of girls could make the +whistly noises Uncle Robert could when he ran upstairs three steps at a +time or dashed down again. No one but Uncle Robert could tootle so +entrancingly on the flute, or pick out such funny records for the +Victrola. No one in the world would think to bring one a box of candy +and leave it hidden in his hat, or just outside the door for one to find +after dinner. No other Uncle would remember a little girl's birthday +once a month with a new dollar bill. + +Rosanna, driven by a real loneliness to confide in someone, spent much +time with Miss Hooker and while Rosanna honestly thought she was +attending strictly to Scout business, the conversation was sure to slip +around to Uncle Robert. Miss Hooker never appeared to join Rosanna in +her talk, but it was surprising what a good listener she proved to be. +The only time she said anything was when Rosanna would enlarge on the +way Uncle Robert felt about girls. Then Miss Hooker would always assert +that she thought he was perfectly right, because she herself thought +very little of men. Silly creatures she said they were, at which loyal +Rosanna would always declare, "But Uncle Robert isn't." + +Miss Hooker would answer, "_Possibly_ not," in a manner that insinuated +that perhaps he wasn't, and perhaps he _was_, but Rosanna let it go. + +However, Rosanna was happy because Uncle Robert had written her that he +was coming home in a day or two, and that she might get ready to look in +the left hand pocket of his overcoat, and whatever was there she could +have. When she told Miss Hooker she was grieved to hear her say that she +was not sure that she would be around to see the surprise, because she +was planning to go away herself, and wasn't it too bad? + +"I should say it was!" said Rosanna. "Why, then you won't see Uncle +Robert either!" + +"No," said Miss Hooker, "but it really doesn't make any difference. I +don't suppose I am any more anxious to see him than he is to see me." + +When Uncle Robert appeared and came up the front steps three at a time +as usual, Rosanna was at the door to meet him. She jumped into his arms +and hugged him until he begged for mercy. + +As she let him go, she happened to think of the left hand pocket, and +had to think which was the left. While she was deciding, she heard a +funny noise, and there in the pocket was a fuzzy head. The most adorable +little head! It was a tiny baby collie, looking like a small bear. +Rosanna had him out in a second, and Uncle Robert left her with her new +pet while he went to speak to his mother. + +That night he came up to show Rosanna how to put her puppy to bed for +the night, and when the little fellow at last snuggled down in his +basket, and went to sleep, Uncle Robert settled down in his favorite +chair and lighted a cigarette and wanted to hear all the news. + +"What shall I start with?" asked Rosanna, listening to the soft +breathing of the little collie. + +"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Uncle Robert. "Begin with Miss--er +Gwenny." + +"Why, you needn't call her _Miss_," said Rosanna. "You never used to! I +thought first you were going to say begin with Miss Hooker." + +"Ridiculous!" laughed Uncle Robert, cocking his eye up at the ceiling. +"Begin with Gwenny, of course." + +"Well," said Rosanna, "we have only had two letters from her mother. One +was soon after you went away, and said that Gwenny was very comfortable +indeed, and had a fine room, and was making a great many friends. The +doctor couldn't tell when he would operate, because he would have to +take Gwenny any time she happened to be at her best. That was about all +of that letter. The next one was just the other day. And Uncle Robert, +they have operated! They telegraphed for Doctor Rick, and he is there +now. But Mrs. Harter wrote that the operation was over and Doctor +Branshaw thinks it will be perfectly successful." + +"Well, that is perfectly splendid!" said Uncle Robert. "Did she tell you +how Gwenny stood it?" + +"Yes. She said for a couple of hours they were afraid her heart was +going to stop, but that Doctor Branshaw stood right over her, and had +everything ready to start it again if they could. He stayed with her all +night. You ought to hear the way Mrs. Harter talks about him. She thinks +he is a saint, as well as the greatest doctor in the whole world." + +"He assays pretty well toward solid gold," said Uncle Robert. + +"Mrs. Harter says they don't know when they will be able to get home, +but already Gwenny sleeps better and is beginning to want to eat. She +never did, you know." + +"That is certainly fine news," said Uncle Robert. "Anything else +happened while I was away?" + +"You know that Lucy Breen?" asked Rosanna. + +Uncle Robert shook his head. + +"She has turned out to be a real nice girl, and Helen and Elise and I go +over there a lot. And her mother (it's really her stepmother, only Lucy +is mad if you call her that) is perfectly lovely. If you could only +marry _her_, Uncle Robert!" + +"Thank you, Rosanna, but Mr. Breen looks husky and he might object." + +"Oh, that was a joke," said Rosanna. "Like the time you said you pretty +near loved Miss Hooker. I wish you could have heard her laugh when I +told her that." + +"Oh, you told her, did you?" said Uncle Robert. + +"It was so funny I had to." + +"What did she say?" asked Uncle Robert, sitting up suddenly. + +"She said she thought you were the most amusing person she had ever met +and that no one could possibly take you seriously. I agreed with her." + +"I'll bet you did!" said Uncle Robert. + +"She has gone away," said Rosanna as an afterthought. "She went today. I +told her I was sorry she wouldn't be able to see what you brought me, +and wouldn't see you either, but she said it didn't make any difference +as she wasn't any more anxious to see you than she supposed you were to +see her." + +Uncle Robert laughed a short, queer laugh. + +"Well, Rosanna, just you watch what happens now! I will just pay her up +for that." + +"What do you care?" asked Rosanna. "I don't see what difference it +makes. She likes you all right; she thinks you are so funny." + +"I will show her how funny I can be," said Uncle Robert. "Where has she +gone?" + +"To Atlantic City," said Rosanna. + +"I may see her there," said Uncle Robert. "The doctor says the sea air +would be great for me." + +"What ails you?" said Rosanna anxiously. "You look perfectly well." + +"A little trouble with my heart," said Uncle Robert soberly. "It acts +like the very deuce, Rosanna. Part of the time it feels sort of--sort +of, well, sort of _empty_, and then it has spells when I get to thinking +hard and beats as fast as it can. It is awful, Rosanna." + +"I should say it was!" said Rosanna, "Oh, Uncle Robert, _do_ try to get +it well! If anything should happen to you, I would think it was that +benefit. You had to work so hard." + +"I think myself that had something to do with it," said Robert, "but of +course I only did my duty, and I don't blame a soul." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +There was a long silence during which Rosanna studied her uncle closely. +She even forgot the puppy. What if anything should happen to Uncle +Robert? As she looked at him it flashed over her that she cared for him +with all her heart. She would not know what to do without him. She felt +very sad, and when Uncle Robert looked up and surprised the worried +expression on her face he laughed, and said: + +"Cheer up, sweetness! I am all right, and I want you to promise me that +you won't tell mother what I have just told you. I don't want to worry +her." + +"I promise, Uncle Robert; and I always keep my promises," said Rosanna. + +"That is a good thing," said Uncle Robert. "I wish I had known that +before. I would have had you make me some." But he wouldn't explain that +remark, and soon went out, not seeming to care for the rest of the news +which, being all about the Scouts, Rosanna had left until the last as +the most important. + +The Girl Scouts were very busy now getting ready for Christmas. There +was a cast-iron rule in that particular troop that all Christmas +presents should be finished and wrapped up three weeks before Christmas. + +So with all their own work well out of the way, they were busy as bees +making tarleton stockings and collecting toys and dolls for the +particular orphanage they had assumed the care of. Louisville is full of +orphanages, and every year the girls were in the habit of choosing one +of them for their attention. They dressed a tree, and secured presents +for each of the children. These presents were often dolls and toys that +had been cast aside by more fortunate children, but the girls took them +and mended and painted and dressed them until you would have been +surprised at the result. At least they never offered anything that +looked shabby. The stockings were filled with popcorn and candy, and a +big golden orange gladdened each little heart. + +Rosanna worked harder than anyone. School went right on as it always +does whether or not Girl Scouts are busy at other things, and every +spare moment was spent with the dear little puppy that her uncle had +brought her. Mr. Horton still complained to Rosanna about his heart, but +was unable to go east as he had planned. He often asked Rosanna if Miss +Hooker had returned, although Rosanna had told him a good many times +that she did not expect to come back before spring. + +But news came from Gwenny. She was so much better that she could come +back. As Miss Hooker was away, and Uncle Robert always seemed to have +time to do things, the Girl Scouts made him a committee to go and pay +the doctor and the hospital bills, and see that Gwenny and her mother +reached home safely. + +Uncle Robert dashed off to Cincinnati that very night. The next day he +returned without Gwenny, and with a queer look on his face asked Rosanna +to ask their Lieutenant, who was in charge of the troop, to call a +meeting that very afternoon or evening. Rosanna called Miss Jamieson up, +and between them they were able to get word to all the girls. Rosanna +was as excited as any of them, because Uncle Robert would not tell her +what the matter was. When the girls all gathered in Rosanna's +sitting-room, he came in, looking very mysterious and important. + +"I have news for you girls--quite remarkable news, I think. To begin, I +went down to Cincinnati and found Gwenny so improved that I actually did +not know her. Of course she is still in a wheel chair, and will have to +stay there most of the time for the next year but every day she goes +through certain exercises, and soon will begin to take a few steps. +Doctor Branshaw assured me that she will some day be as well as any of +you. They have taught Mrs. Harter just how to rub her, and help her with +her exercises. + +"After I had seen Gwenny I went down and paid the hospital bill. It came +to a little over two hundred dollars. I have the items in my pocket. +Then I went to Doctor Branshaw's office, and asked him for his bill. He +said, 'Sit down. I want to have a talk with you.' Well, girls, he wanted +to know all about you, and the work you are doing, and how many there +are of you in the troop that is taking care of Gwenny. I told him about +the benefit, and he said he had heard about that from Gwenny, and her +mother as well. + +"I didn't want to bore him, so after we had talked you pretty well out, +and over, I asked him again for his bill, and he said, 'Horton, there is +no bill.' I said, 'Well, sir, whenever you will have it made out, I will +give a check for it. The money the girls made is banked in my name for +the sake of convenience.' + +"'How much is there?' asked the doctor. I thought he didn't want to +charge over the amount we have so I told him. He fiddled with a pencil +for awhile, then he said: + +"'Horton, I make the rich pay, and pay well, but I do not intend to ask +those girls of yours a cent for this operation.'" + +A great "O-o-o-o-h!" went up from the girls. + +Uncle Robert went on. + +"Then the doctor said, before I could thank him, 'I wonder if the girls +would mind if I make a suggestion,' and I assured him that you would +like it very much. + +"'Well then,' said the doctor, 'here it is. Gwenny will require a great +deal of care for many months to come, rubbing and so forth. Why don't +those good girls take the money and buy a little house somewhere on the +edge of the city, or on a quiet street, where the Harters could live and +where Mrs. Harter would not have to work so hard to earn the rent? From +what she says, the boys earn nearly enough to feed the family. What do +you think of that?' + +"I told him that I thought it was a splendid idea, and would see what +could be done about it. Then he made the finest suggestion of all. He +said that another week in the hospital would be of great benefit to +Gwenny, and why didn't I come home and see you and if you all approve, +we can buy a small house and settle it and Gwenny can be moved right +there." + +A shriek of delight went up, and everyone commenced to talk at once. + +"Order, order!" cried Mr. Horton. He could scarcely make himself heard. + +At last after much talking, it was settled that Mr. Horton should look +at a number of houses, and when he had seen them he was to select the +three that seemed most promising and take all the girls to see them. But +he stipulated that a couple of older ladies should look them over with +him, and Mrs. Breen and Mrs. Hargrave were chosen by unanimous vote. + +"Now, girls, how are you going to thank the Doctor?" he asked. + +No one knew and finally Rosanna suggested that it would be well to think +it over. So they all trooped home, Uncle Robert promising to make a +report at the end of three days. + +It was a long three days, but it passed finally, and Uncle Robert +appeared with an account of three little bungalows that seemed all that +he had hoped for, and more. One of them he thought was the one for them +to take, as it was right on a good part of Preston Street where the +children could easily get to school. It was brand new, and had never +been occupied. Indeed it was not finished but would be within two or +three days. After the girls had seen the three houses, Mr. Horton said +he would tell them which one Mrs. Hargrave and Mrs. Breen liked the +best. Of course all the girls piled into the automobiles of the girls +who had them, and made the rounds, and equally of course they all +decided on the Preston Street house which was the very one that Mrs. +Hargrave and Mrs. Breen had liked. It was all done except the plumbing +in the kitchen, so Mr. Horton went right over to see Minnie who was +still keeping house for the Harter children. Minnie heard all about the +new plan, and Mr. Horton asked: + +"Now, Minnie, do you feel like moving these people all over there, +before Mrs. Harter and Gwenny come home, or is it too much to ask you?" + +"Just you fetch me a moving van the day you want we should move," said +Minnie, "and I will do the rest." She cast an eye around the +dilapidated, shabby room. "My, my! What a piece of good luck for the +_deservingest_ woman! I tell you, Mr. Robert, the time I've been here +has been a lesson to me. The way she has scrimped, and saved, and +patched, and turned, and mended, and went without! My young man and me +on his wages ought to put away fifty dollars every month of our lives. +And so I told him we was going to do. Of course I will move 'em! And Mr. +Robert, if it was so I could go around and see the house, perhaps I +could tell better how to pack." + +"That's right, Minnie. Suppose we go over now," said Mr. Horton. + +Minnie was overjoyed when she saw the little house, and at once picked +out a room for Gwenny. The other children could double up, but Gwenny +should have a room to herself. Minnie seemed thoughtful all the way +home, and finally said, "Mr. Horton, up in your garret, there is a pile +of window curtains that don't fit anywhere, and they will never be used. +I have handled 'em a million times while I worked for your mother. And +there's a square table with a marble top that your mother can't abide +the sight of, and a couple of brass beds put up there when they went out +of date. If your mother would spare any of those things I could fix that +house so tasty." + +"I don't suppose she wants any of them," said Robert heartily. "I will +speak to her about them when I go home, and after supper Rosanna and I +will take a joy ride over here and tell you what her answer is." + +The answer was that Mrs. Horton was only too glad to get rid of the +things Minnie had mentioned, and suggested that before settling the +house Minnie might go through the attic and see if there was anything +else that she thought would be of service. Mrs. Horton, knowing that +Minnie would know better than she could, just what the Harters would +appreciate, refrained from making any suggestions; and Minnie found many +treasures in the attic. There were portieres, and a soft low couch, the +very thing for Gwenny to rest on in the pleasant sitting-room, and the +beds, and a table and two bureaus. And she found two carpet rugs. + +She set Mary and Myron to work with a pot of cream colored paint, and in +two days the shabby old dining-room table and shabbier chairs were all +wearing bright new coats. + +As soon as ever she could, she called on Mr. Robert for the moving van, +and moved everything over to the new house. Settling was a joy, there +were so many to help. All the Girl Scouts wanted to do something, and +between them they outfitted Gwenny's dresser (a walnut one that was put +through the paint test and came out pretty as could be). The two carpet +rugs were laid down in the living-room and the dining-room, and looked +scarcely worn at all after Minnie had finished scrubbing, and Tommy and +Myron had whipped them. The dining-room rug was dark blue, and how that +table and those chairs did show up on it. The springs were broken down +in the couch Minnie had picked out, but she turned it over and her young +man nailed a new piece of webbing underneath, and in five minutes it was +as good as new. Rosanna helped her as much as she could. When they were +busy putting up the curtains Minnie said, "Rosanna dear, I think your +Uncle Robert looks thin." + +"I think he does too," said Rosanna, but remembering her promise would +say no more. + +"In love," said Minnie, wisely nodding her head. + +"Of course _not_," said Rosanna. "He doesn't like girls." + +"No, he doesn't. Oh no!" said Minnie. "Of course he is in love! Do you +mean to tell me, Rosanna, that you don't know that he is in love with +little Miss Hooker? Don't tell me that!" + +"I _do_ tell you," said Rosanna. "He doesn't even like her, sweet as she +is." + +"My good land, hear the child!" said Minnie, sitting down on the top +step of the ladder, and letting the stiffly starched curtain trail to +the floor. + +"Do you remember the day she came to see you when you were sick after +your accident, and your grandmother had said you could be a Girl Scout? +Do you remember that your Uncle Robert was there when she came in? Well, +believe me, Rosanna, your Uncle Robert fell in love with her that very +day and hour and minute, and that's the truth." + +"I wish it was," sighed Rosanna. "I _do_ wish it was, but he truly does +not like her. I don't know why." + +"Well, that beats me!" said Minnie, picking up the slack of the curtain +again, and sadly hanging it. "I certainly am disappointed, for she is +the _sweetest_ little bit I ever hope to see, and it would be a mercy to +see that good, kind, nice actin' young man get the likes of her rather +than some high nosed madam, who would look down on all his humble +friends (as friends we _are_, Rosanna, as you may well believe)." + +Rosanna did not answer. She was too low in her mind. She knew that Uncle +Robert did not care for anyone, but what if someone _should_ grab him +anyhow? Rosanna felt that life was full of perils. + +Two days later the little house was in perfect order, and Uncle Robert +went again to Cincinnati after Gwenny. It was decided that no one should +meet them on account of tiring Gwenny after her journey, so Uncle Robert +carried Gwenny to the automobile and took her home to the little new +house, her mother looking back with her sweet, anxious smile from the +front seat of the automobile. When they reached the Preston Street +house, and Mary and Myron and boisterous Tommy and little Luella all +filed out quite quiet, but brimming with happiness, Mrs. Harter could +only stare. + +"This is Gwenny's house, Mrs. Harter, deeded to her. Come in!" said Mr. +Horton, as Minnie rushed out and led the dazed woman into all the +glories of the new home. + +Mr. Horton carried Gwenny straight to her own room, and laid her down on +the sparkling, gleaming brass bed, where he left her listening to Mary's +rapid explanations. When he went downstairs he found Mrs. Harter in the +kitchen, crying silently. + +"Now, now, Mrs. Harter, you must not do that!" he said. "Brace up like a +good woman! Gwenny will need a lot of care for a few days, and you will +need all your strength." + +"Oh, but I am so thankful that my heart feels as though it would break!" +said Mrs. Harter. + +Mr. Horton laughed. "It won't break," he said. "Minnie, shall I take you +home?" + +"Thank you, sir, but my Tom is coming over a little later. I have supper +all fixed, so we will have a small feast to celebrate, after Gwenny is +attended to and safe in bed, so I will get home nicely, thank you." + +"Good night then," said Mr. Horton. "Don't let those Girl Scouts run +over you, Mrs. Harter." He raised his hat and ran down the steps +whistling. + +"There goes one good man," said Minnie solemnly. "Come, dear, and take +off your hat in your own house, and see the ducky closet under the +stairs to keep it in." + +And so it was that Gwenny came home. + +Mr. Horton sped to his own home as fast as he dared drive the car, the +chauffeur sitting silently beside him. Robert was too happy to let +anyone else handle the wheel. Once more he dashed up the steps three at +a time, whistling. Rosanna was at the door. + +"Be careful of your heart, Uncle Robert," she whispered, looking around +to see that her grandmother was not within hearing. "Were they pleased?" + +"_Were_ they?" said Uncle Robert. "I should say they _were_! Everybody +perfectly happy! Gwenny staring around her pretty room, and Mrs. Harter +crying in the sink. Yes, everybody is happy. Teedle-ee, teedle-oo!" +warbled Uncle Robert. + +"How good and kind you are, dear Uncle Robert!" said Rosanna tenderly. + +"Yes, _ain't I_?" said Uncle Robert, deliberately ungrammatical. "Oh, +yes, I _be_!" he went on chanting, as he sat down and fished out a +cigarette. Then changing to a sober tone, "Rosanna, whom do you think I +found in Cincinnati? Up there at that Hospital as large as life?" + +"I don't know," said Rosanna. + +"Well, if you will believe me, there was that bad little bit of a Miss +Hooker, who had come back from Atlantic City to see that Gwenny was all +right. She helped me bring them home. And Rosanna, perhaps I didn't _get +even_ with her, for what she said about my being funny! You know I told +you I would. I did! It was hard, hard work but I done it, I done it! +Tra-la-de-lu-de-lu-de-i-i-i-i-i!" yodeled Uncle Robert, whisking the ash +off his cigarette. + +"What did you do to her?" asked Rosanna in a small, fearful voice. + +Uncle Robert looked very sternly at Rosanna. + +"What did I do?" he asked. "What did I _do_? Well, I made her promise to +marry me; _that's_ what I did! Pretty smart uncle, hey, Rosanna?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Rosanna sank feebly down on the hall bench, and to her own surprise and +Uncle Robert's dismay burst into tears. + +"Well, who next?" said Uncle Robert. "Mrs. Harter crying in the sink, +and you weeping all over our nice hall. Oh dear, what a wet, wet world!" + +"Oh, don't mind me," said Rosanna, choking back her sobs. "I am +perfectly happy, only everything turns out so differently from +everything else!" + +"I suppose you are right," granted Uncle Robert. "You must be if you +know what you mean." + +"I am not sure _what_ I mean," said Rosanna, "but I am so glad, glad, +_glad_ that you are going to marry that dear darling Miss Hooker instead +of that high nosed madam!" + +"What are you talking about?" demanded Robert. "High nosed? Who is she?" + +"I think it is someone Minnie made up," said Rosanna. "She said what a +shame if she married you." + +"Well, she didn't and won't," declared Uncle Robert with conviction. +"And as far as _nose_ goes, my girl has only enough nose so that one +knows it _is_ a nose. Get that, Rosanna?" + +Rosanna giggled. "Have you told grandmother?" she asked. + +Uncle Robert looked suddenly sobered. + +"No, I didn't, and I should have done so first and I meant to, and it is +all your fault, Rosanna." + +"How so?" asked Rosanna in surprise. + +"Well, if it hadn't been for you I would never have been traipsing over +the country on errands for the Girl Scouts and you wouldn't have been +waiting for me in the hall, and I wouldn't have been so fussed at seeing +you that I would forget to tell my mamma first. And she won't like it +unless she gets told right quick," added Uncle Robert, getting up. +Rosanna wiped her eyes, whereupon Uncle Robert sang: + + "There, little girlie, don't you cry, + We'll have a wedding by and by," + +and ran up the stairs, three at a time, whistling as he went in search +of his mother. + +Uncle Robert was not one to take chances. After seeing his mother, who +was truly pleased and had the good sense to show it, he started to Mrs. +Hargrave's, and after a short visit left that dear old lady busy at the +telephone. The result was a wonderful announcement luncheon a week +later, given by Mrs. Hargrave, at which the little Captain looked +dimplier and sweeter than ever. After the luncheon she went over to +Rosanna's house, where she found all her Girl Scouts ready to +congratulate her. + +"You won't give us up, will you?" they all asked anxiously, and she +assured them that she would not. Seeing that they were really anxious, +she made them all sit down close around her, and one by one they sang +the Scout songs. They were happier after that, and only Rosanna was just +a little lonely when she thought of the days when Uncle Robert was away, +and reflected that all the days would be like that by-and-by. Just her +grandmother and herself in the great stately old house, not occupying +half of the rooms, and making so little noise that it made her lonely +just to think of it. However, she put it out of her mind as bravely as +she could. + +Miss Hooker stayed to dinner, and Mrs. Horton was so charming that +Rosanna could not help thinking what a very lovely young lady she must +have been. After dinner, Mrs. Horton calmly carried her little guest +away to her own sitting-room for what she called a consultation, and +Rosanna and Uncle Robert who had nothing whatever to consult about now, +sat and read. Upstairs, Mrs. Horton sat down opposite her son's +sweetheart, and said smilingly: + +"I want to say something to you that Robert does not dream I am going to +say, and if you do not approve, I want you to be frank enough and brave +enough to tell me. Will you?" + +"Yes, indeed I will," Miss Hooker promised. + +"I am an old woman, my dear, and silent. Sometimes I fear I am not very +agreeable. It is a hard and unchildlike life that our little Rosanna +leads here with me. I want you to ask yourself if for her sake you could +bring yourself to live here for a few years. I know how dear a new +little house is to a bride's heart, and I tremble to ask you such a +favor. But Rosanna has a lonely life at best, and with you here this +house could be made gay indeed. + +"I would never ask it for myself, but I do for Rosanna. I would gladly +do anything I could for her, but I cannot fill the house with the sort +of joy and gayety that she should have. She loves you deeply, and her +Uncle Robert is her ideal. + +"Wait a moment, dear," she added as she saw her guest was about to +speak. "I want to tell you what we could do. There are nine large rooms +on this floor. You could select what you want for a suite, and you and +Robert could decorate and furnish and arrange them to suit yourselves. I +would be so glad to do this just as you wish, and then of course, my +dear, the house is all yours besides. Could you consider it?" + +"I don't have to consider it," said the little Captain. "I have already +thought about it, and was worried about Rosanna, but I knew that she +could not come to us and leave you all alone here. I am sure Bob will be +glad to arrange it as you suggest, for he is very devoted to his mother +and to Rosanna as well." + +Mrs. Horton gave a sigh of relief. "I can't thank you enough, my dearest +girl," she said. "No one wants to make your life as happy as I do, and +if there is anything I can ever do for you, you have only to tell me. +Now we must have everything new in the rooms you want, so we will go +down and tell Robert and Rosanna. How glad that child will be!" + +Rosanna was tired and very nervous, and when Mrs. Horton and Miss Hooker +came down with their great plan, Rosanna once more, to her own horror, +commenced to cry. + +"Well, for goodness' sake," her uncle cried, "I never _did_ see anything +like this! What ails the child? This certainly settles me! I shall +never, never plan to get married again. Rosanna is turning into a +regular _founting_; yes, ma'am, a regular _founting_!" + +"Oh, I am so sorry--no, I mean I am so _glad_," said Rosanna. + +"You mean you are all tired out, and ought to go to bed," said her +grandmother. + +"And if I am to come here to live," said Robert's sweetheart, dimpling, +"I may as well see how I shall like putting a girl in her little bed." + +Rosanna, nearly as tall as the little lady, laughed through her tears. +She went over and kissed her uncle good-night. + +"I am sorry I was so silly," she whispered. "I was _so_ lonely when I +thought you were going away that somehow when I found you were not, why, +I just couldn't help myself." + +"I know how you felt. It is all right, sweetness," Uncle Robert +whispered back. Rosanna's clasp tightened round his neck. + +"Uncle Robert, shall I--do you suppose--will I be your sweetness just +the same even after you are married?" + +Uncle Robert kissed her hard. "Before and after, and forever and ever +more!" he said. "Just as soon as I get to be a sober married man, I +shall be your uncle and your daddy too, and you are going to be the +happiest little girl in the world." + +"Oh, Uncle Robert!" was all Rosanna could say, but her look thanked him +and tears were very near his own eyes as he watched the little orphaned +girl skipping off with her arm around the shoulders of his future wife. +But they were tears of happiness. + +"Don't you love this room, Captain?" asked Rosanna, as she switched on +the soft flood of light. + +"Indeed I do!" said Miss Hooker. "I expect to spend a great deal of my +time here. Between us, Rosanna, we ought to be able to plan the most +wonderful things for our Scout troop. And next summer Bob says he will +find a place for us to camp, and fit us out with tents and all that, so +we will not have to go to a boarding-house or hotel, but stay right in +the open. Won't that be splendid?" + +"Think of it!" said Rosanna. "Won't the girls be wild when they hear +about it? Oh, dear, I wish I was eighteen so I could be a lieutenant!" + +"I don't wish you were eighteen," said Miss Hooker. "I like you just as +you are." + +"Oh, Miss Hooker, you are _so_ sweet!" said Rosanna. + +Miss Hooker dimpled. "One thing we had better settle right now," she +said. "What are you going to call me?" + +Rosanna looked blank. "I hadn't thought about that at all. Of course I +can't go on calling you Miss Hooker, and then Mrs. Horton. And you are +too little and too young to be anybody's aunt." + +Miss Hooker watched her with a smile. + +"What are you going to do about it then? I want you to call me just what +you like. You are to choose." + +"Then I will tell you what," said Rosanna brightly. "I was reading the +sweetest little story the other day about a Spanish family, and they +called each other _Cita_. It means _dear_." + +"_Cita_," repeated Miss Hooker. "Why, I think that is just as sweet as +it can be, and I should love to have you call me that." + +"Then that is what you are, little Cita," said Rosanna with a kiss. And +to her devoted household, Cita she remains to this very day. + +Cita and Uncle Robert did not seem able to agree on a date for their +wedding. Cita declared that it would take at least six or eight months +to get what she mysteriously called her "things" together. Uncle Robert +declared with equal fervor that she had everything she needed, and that +they were not going to go off and live on a desert isle where there were +no shops. + +Finally Uncle Robert had an inspiration. "I tell you what let's do," he +said after a long argument. "Let's leave this to an outsider: someone +with no special interest in the affair. And as a business man, I will +name the agent." + +"Very well," said Cita. "See that you play fair." + +"I name and nominate Miss Rosanna Horton, and as her aids and assistants +I name and nominate Miss Helen Culver and Miss Elise Hargrave." + +"That is not playing fair at all!" cried Cita. "You know perfectly well +that they want us to be married soon." + +Robert shook his head. "Not at all! Our marriage is detrimental to those +persons named, insomuch as I shall take you off on a wedding trip, and +by so doing shall interfere with the routine of work in your Scout +troop. That is a good committee, and I shall trust them. I shall now +call them in." + +The three girls were working in the Scout room on the tarleton +stockings, filling and tying them. Robert stepped to the door and +summoned them. Putting the question before them in the most serious +manner, he told them that they were to decide. + +"I should think I ought to decide my _own_ wedding day!" cried Cita. + +"You don't seem able to do it," said Robert. "You have been trying to +decide for the last ten days. You see it is a business proposition with +me. Perhaps if these good, kind young ladies succeed in fixing a wedding +day, say before Christmas, I won't have to buy you any Christmas +present." + +"I don't _want_ to be married before Christmas," wailed Cita, looking +appealingly at the girls. + +Rosanna nodded her head understandingly, and the three girls left the +room. + +"When will we set it?" asked Helen. "Do they really mean that we are to +do so?" + +"Tell him we have decided on the fifteenth of February," said Rosanna. +"That is the date she has fixed, but he is such a tease that she has +been teasing him in return. That will give her all the time she needs, +and she won't be all tired out. Everyone loves her, and wants to do +things for her and, besides, it is going to take weeks to get those +rooms fixed. I never saw grandmother so fussy over anything before. She +is going clear to New York and is going to take Cita to select hangings, +and she has an artist friend selecting pictures; that is, a list for +Cita to look over. Grandmother wants every last thing to be Cita's own +selection. And, girls, it is going to be _too_ lovely. What do you +think? You know those ceilings are about twenty feet high, and +grandmother has had them all lowered with plaster board and beams, so it +looks so much cozier. Grandmother is really splendid. I never loved her +so much." + +"Are you almost ready to report?" demanded Uncle Robert at the door. + +"All ready!" said Helen as the committee went skipping in. + +"Well, let's hear the verdict," said Uncle Robert. "If this committee is +as sensible as it looks, I expect to hear them say that the date is set +for next week Tuesday." + +"The fifteenth of February," said Rosanna firmly. + +A look of relief spread over Cita's face. + +"Wha-a-a-t?" said Uncle Robert. "Impossible! Why, _I_ named this +committee and by all the rules of politics you should have brought in +the report I want." + +"But it wouldn't have been fair," said Rosanna. + +"What has that to do with politics?" groaned Uncle Robert. "All right! I +have been done up; sold out, and by my own constituents. The fifteenth +of February it is. But don't you dare to make it a day later, young +ladies!" He rose. + +"Where are you going?" asked Rosanna. + +"Where?" said Uncle Robert, with a twinkle in his eye. "_You_ ask me +where? Well, I am going to drag myself downtown to get that Christmas +present." + +"And now," said Cita after he had gone, "now don't let's think of +weddings or anything else but our Scout work. Things have been dragging +lately, and I think it is my fault. If we do not do better and snappier +work right away, I will know it is my fault, and I shall give the troop +over to someone else. Engaged girls have no business trying to run a +troop." + +"Don't say that, Cita," said Rosanna. "We have all been working so hard +for Christmas that I think we have no energy left." + +"Possibly," said Cita, "but we must put things pretty well in order at +the next meeting, and before then I want all these Christmas things +marked and in their proper baskets. That meeting, the last before the +holidays, will be an important one." + +"Then let us go to work merrilee," said Elise, picking up a stocking, +and letting a gumdrop slide down into the toe. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +After the usual formalities of a meeting, Captain Hooker desired the +girls' full attention. She held a formidable sheaf of notes in her hand, +and it looked to the Scouts as though there was going to be a good deal +of work parcelled out to them. + +"In the first place," said their Captain, "I have asked the approval of +the National Headquarters, and you are at liberty to send a Thanks badge +to Doctor Branshaw. Now you have not yet sent him any formal thanks for +what he did for Gwenny and I wonder if any of you have an idea of some +attractive way of expressing your gratitude." + +"I thought of something, Captain," said Lucy Breen, "but perhaps it +wouldn't do." + +"Let us hear it," said the Captain. + +"How would it be to write him, each of us, a short letter of thanks, +just a few words, and at the top of each letter paste a snapshot of the +girl who has written it? Then bind them all in a sort of cover or folder +with our motto and a print of our flower on the outside." + +"I think that is simply a splendid idea," cried the Captain. "Don't you +think so, girls?" + +Of course everyone did, and it was settled that Rosanna should go and +buy the paper for the letters so they should all be alike. As for the +cover, Miss Hooker, who was an artist of more than ordinary talent and +skill, offered to illuminate the cover with the cornflower as the motif; +and she decided to illuminate it on parchment, with the deep blue of the +flowers and dull gold lettering. The girls who had no snapshot of +themselves promised to have one taken at once. Before they finished, the +"Thanks Book" as they called it, promised to become a beautiful and very +attractive affair. Miss Hooker warned them all to write natural and +simple letters. + +"How many of you have been over to see Gwenny in her new home?" asked +the Captain. "After the holidays, I think it would be a very kind thing +for you to each give up an afternoon once in so often (you can decide +how often you can spare the time), and go spend the afternoon with +Gwenny. Her mother feels that she should do a little work now and that +faithful little Mary is taking care of a couple of children over here on +Third Street every afternoon, to earn her share of the household +expenses. So Gwenny is left very much alone." + +"My mother has been in the Norton Infirmary for a month," said one of +the girls, "and she said the nurse told her that it would mean a great +deal to some of these patients if we girls would only come in once in +awhile, and talk to some of the patients who get so lonely. Mother said +there was a boy there with a broken hip, and he was always going to be +lame, and he grieved so about it all the time that it kept him from +getting well. And there was another patient, a girl about my age, with +something wrong with her back. She is in a plaster cast, and her only +relative is a father who travels, and he is in California." + +"Now there is an idea for you all," said Miss Hooker. "I want to talk +all these things over today, because if I am away at any time I want to +feel that I know just about what you are doing. I should think that it +would do a lot of good to visit those poor young people. There is just +one thing to remember if you want to be popular with the nurses and +helpful to the patients: always stay just a little _shorter_ time than +you are expected to. Then the nurses feel that you are wise enough to be +trusted without tiring the patients, and the patients are left with the +desire to see you soon again." + +"That is just what my mother said," said the girl who had spoken. "She +says so many people come who just stay and stay and if the nurse does +not get around in time to send them home, why, they have the patient in +a fever." + +"Perfectly true," said Miss Hooker. "Make your visits short--and often. +Next," said the Captain, "I want to tell you that Lucy Breen has passed +the examinations successfully in two subjects. She is now entitled to +wear the Merit badge for Horsemanship and Clerk." + +All the girls clapped. + +"_Bon bon_, dear Lucee!" whispered Elise. + +Lucy smiled back at the dear girl who had befriended her at a moment +when she needed a friend so badly. + +"I want to ask how many of you girls are taking regular exercises every +morning?" asked Captain Hooker. "It does not seem as though you had as +good color as you should have. I want my girls to be the finest looking +troop at the great meeting in the spring. It is to be in Washington; did +I tell you? And I want every one of you to go. Now, there is an +incentive to work. The rally is in June just after school is over, and I +want you to earn the money for your railroad tickets. Of course we will +all get special rates, and it will not cost us anything after we arrive +there, as we will be the guests of the Washington Scouts, or some of the +women's organizations. But you should all of you be able to earn ten +dollars before that time. It will take that much, but no more. If any of +you girls belong to families who could send you, you are at liberty to +help some other girl who is less fortunate, but you must each one of you +earn the sum I have mentioned." + +"What if we earn more?" asked Lucy Breen. + +"I am sure you will be glad to have a little spending money when you get +to Washington," said Miss Hooker. + +"Some of us will earn more and some less," said Helen. "After we earn +the ten dollars, why couldn't we put everything else we earn in your +hands, and then it could be evenly divided at the end, and we would each +have the same amount to spend, and when we come home we can each tell +what we spent it for." + +"Splendid!" exclaimed Miss Hooker. "What do you girls think of that? I +think it would be quite a test of your ability to get a good deal of +pleasure or profit out of a stated amount." + +Again everybody clapped, and with a little more discussion the subject +was left settled. + +One of the Webster girls raised a hand. + +"What would you suggest that we could do to earn money?" she said. "All +we can do is dance, and mamma won't let us dance in public until we are +grown up. We don't know how to do anything else." + +"Marian, I get awfully cross with you sometimes," laughed Miss Hooker. +"What are those two merit badges on your sleeve?" + +"Oh, _those_!" said Marian in a helpless voice. "The gridiron for +Cooking and the palm leaf for Invalid Cooking. But I can't go out and +cook." + +"What can you make best?" asked Miss Hooker. + +Another girl spoke up. "She makes the loveliest jellies you ever tasted +and they always stand right up, never slump over at all." + +"And you, Evelyn Webster, what is that on your sleeve?" + +"The palette," said Evelyn. + +"There you are!" said Miss Hooker. "What is the good of earning these +badges if you are never going to make use of the things they stand for?" +She picked up the Girl Scouts Hand Book that was lying on her lap, and +turning over the pages said, "Listen to this: + +"Employment. + +"'Stick to it,' the thrush sings. One of the worst weaknesses of many +people is that they do not have the perseverance to stick to what they +have to do. They are always wanting to change. Whatever you do, take up +with all your might and stick to it. Besides the professions of nursing, +teaching, stenography and typewriting and clerking, there are many less +crowded employments, such as hairdressing, making flowers, coloring +photographs, and assisting dentists, and gardening. There are many +occupations for women, but before any new employment can be taken up, +one must begin while young to make plans and begin collecting +information. 'Luck is like a street car, the only way to get it, is to +look out for every chance and seize it--run at it, and jump on; don't +sit down and wait for it to pass. Opportunity is a street car which has +few stopping places.' + +"Now there you are, Marian and Evelyn, with your jelly and your +beautiful lettering. Make some of that jelly, and put it in the +prettiest glasses you can find, and tie the tops on with a little ribbon +from the five-and-ten-cent store, and illuminate some sample cards for +window displays, and take them down to the Women's Exchange. You, +Evelyn, take your cards to the manager of one of the big stores, and ask +him if he could use such work. He will probably want a thousand of them. +I am glad this came up. If you are all as helpless as Evelyn and Marian +when it comes to using your knowledge, why, there is really not much use +in earning merit badges. + +"I think we will talk this over for ten minutes informally, and then we +will call the roll, and see what each one thinks she can do." + +The Captain turned to the Lieutenant and commenced to talk to her in a +low tone, and for ten minutes the room buzzed. Then at the sharp command +of the Lieutenant's whistle silence fell, and the roll was called, and +each girl's chosen task was jotted down beside her name. The outlook was +rather black for some of the girls who had chosen to try for merits in +unusual rather than in available subjects. For instance, one girl wore +badges for proficiency in Swimming, Signaling, Pioneer, Pathfinder, and +Marksmanship. + +None of these seemed to offer an opening for moneymaking, especially +during the winter months. But she was plucky, and merely said that she +would find a way to earn the money. And she did it by going to the Y. W. +C. A. and assisting the swimming mistress for a couple of hours every +afternoon. So well did she do that when the money was turned in, she had +twenty-five dollars to put in the general fund for spending money. + +Another girl had a merit badge for Aviation, but she went to work in her +workshop and built box kites that no boy could resist, and sold them by +the dozen. + +As Miss Hooker told them, the trick was to make use of what they had +learned. Of course a good deal of this worked itself out later, but when +they had finished their discussion, and Miss Hooker had urged them to +get to work as soon as they possibly could, she changed the subject by +saying, with just a little hesitation: + +"I wonder how many of you know that I am to be married?" + +Every hand rose and a voice said, "But we don't know when." + +"That is what I want to talk to you about," smiled Miss Hooker. "We are +going to be married on the fifteenth of February, and I shall not have +bridesmaids and all that girls usually have; I want my own Scout girls +as attendants--all of you. Will you all come?" + +There was a series of exclamations of "Oh, Miss Hooker!" and "Indeed we +will!" + +"Thank you!" said Miss Hooker, quite as though she was asking a favor +instead of conferring one. "Then I will depend on all of you, and a +little later I will tell you the plan I have for the wedding. Of course +you are to arrange to attend the reception afterwards, and we will have +automobiles to take you all home." + +"Oh, thank you, thank you!" chorused the girls. + +Miss Hooker found that after her invitation it was impossible to +interest the girls in anything in the nature of routine work, so she +soon dismissed the meeting, and the girls as usual piling into the +automobiles belonging to Rosanna and Elise and Lucy and one or two +others, were driven home in a great state of excitement. + +A Girl Scout wedding! That was what it amounted to. Miss Hooker,--their +dear Captain, thought so much of them that she had chosen them to attend +her rather than her own friends. It was thrilling in the extreme. + +It struck about twenty of them about the same time later, that there had +been nothing said about clothes. This was an awful thought. Rosanna +seemed likely to know more than any of the others, on account of the +distinction of having Miss Hooker marry her uncle, so the twenty anxious +maidens rushed to as many telephones and gave central a very bad time +for about an hour, saying "Line's busy," while Rosanna talked to each +one as she secured a clear line, and assured her that she knew nothing +at all about it. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +The fifteenth of February sparkled all day long. Not half of the Scouts +were able to sleep, and they saw the round bright sun bounce out of the +east and start blazing up in a cloudless sky. All day it was the same. +Not a cloud in the sky, not a shadow on the earth. Automobile horns +seemed to take on a joyous toot. The heavy "ding, dong, ding, dong," of +the locomotive bell as it crossed Third Street lost its mournful tone +and sounded sweetly solemn like a wedding bell. + +All day relays of restless Scouts belonging to Captain Hooker's troop +drifted in at the open door of the beautiful old cathedral and watched +the silent workmen setting the palms and flowers under the direction of +a bevy of young ladies who were Miss Hooker's schoolmates and life-long +friends. They had claimed the right to decorate the church since they +were not included in the wedding other than as spectators. + +On twenty-four beds twenty-four Girl Scout uniforms in a terrifying +condition of starch and cleanliness lay stiffly out, with hats and +staffs beside them. And at about three in the afternoon twenty-four Girl +Scouts lay down on other beds, so they would be "fresh" for the wedding. +All the shades were pulled down, but not one of the twenty-four managed +to get to sleep. It was awful! Actually painful! Each one lay wondering +what the others were doing, and what Miss Hooker was doing. Wondered +what she would wear, wondered if she was frightened. The two Websters +had refused to rest in separate rooms, so they talked in a cautious +undertone, while their mother in the next room pressed imaginary creases +out of their tunics. The whole troop had beautiful new hair ribbons from +Miss Hooker and from Mr. Horton a beautiful gold bangle bracelet. A +messenger boy had delivered them all around just at noon, and while they +rested twenty-four left arms were held up to catch the light on the +gleaming band. The idea of anyone sleeping! + +At six o'clock sharp the Lieutenant, Miss Jamieson, hurried up the steps +of the Hargrave house where the girls were to meet, and ten minutes +later three patrols marched nervously along and turned in. Then for +endless ages, too nervous to talk, they sat waiting for the automobiles +that were to carry them to the old cathedral. They were torn with fears. +What if Mr. Horton and his best man, Doctor MacLaren, had forgotten to +order the cars at all? What if they should be late, and the wedding go +on without them? The voice of Mrs. Hargrave's house boy announcing "De +cahs is heah, ma'am," sounded like music. + +The cathedral, down in the oldest part of the city, seemed a million +miles away, and the cars crawled. Not a traffic policeman but stopped +them as they approached--but at last they arrived and entered the +church. How beautiful it was, softly yet brilliantly lighted through its +high arches. White satin with heavy gold embroideries draping altar and +desk, tall candles burning at either side of the Cross. And somewhere +softly, thrillingly out of space, spoke the most entrancing music. + +People went down the aisles in gaily clad groups, the delicate perfumes +of the flowers worn by beautiful women wafting to the girls as they +passed. Mrs. Breen's two brothers and the brothers of the two Girl +Scouts who had helped at the benefit were all acting as ushers and they +were certainly busy. + +Standing just inside the door, the girls were aware of a little stir, +and a group entered, walking more slowly and carefully than the others. +Even the girls were surprised as they stared. For first of all came +Gwenny, Gwenny leaning heavily on the arm of the kindly sign painter, +but Gwenny was _walking_! + +Behind, looking very shiny and quite agonized, followed Mary and Tommy +and little Myron firmly clutching the still littler Luella, who looked +on the verge of tears. After them, to close all avenue of escape, walked +Mrs. Harter, and Minnie and Tom. Very slowly, in Gwenny's halting +footsteps, they went down the aisle--down and down until they came to +the satin ribbon that fenced off a portion of the seats for Miss +Hooker's most particular friends. And even then they did not stop, for +Doctor MacLaren, who was with them, led them to the fourth seat from the +front. It had evidently been saved for them, for in the corner next the +aisle was a big pillow for Gwenny's back. Cita's girl friends kept +drifting in, lovely, colorful creatures in dancing frocks, and the girls +reflected with joy that they too were asked to the reception afterwards. + +Then came the group of the bride's relatives, and close behind, Mrs. +Horton, walking with her hand on the arm of the older Breen boy, and +looking like a queen in her pale gray satin robe, brocaded with silver. + +And then the Lieutenant, who had been standing outside all this time, +returned, looking quite pale, and gave an order in a tone so low that +half of the girls did not hear at all, but they were so keyed up that +they knew just what to do and formed a double line facing the chancel. + +The music burst suddenly, joyously into the Wedding March, and the girls +started slowly down the broad aisle, keeping step to the music. So +smoothly and so quickly had it been done that they had not had a glimpse +of the bride, who was following them on her father's arm, with Rosanna +all in white before her as maid of honor. + +Down the aisle, straight and trim, marched the Guard of Honor. When the +first two girls reached the foot of the chancel steps, they stopped and +turned to face each other, taking two steps backward. As the line all +formed, the staffs were raised until the tips met, and under this arch, +all misty tulle and gleaming satin, her cheeks faintly flushed, her lips +softly smiling, passed their little Captain. Mr. Robert who had been +waiting just beyond came forward and took her hand, and the Dean stepped +down to meet them, while the Bishop waited before the altar. + +The music muted. And in the place of the march came faint sighs of +melody. Then in a pause of the ceremony, from somewhere silvery chimes +rang out. The little bride stood motionless, her tulle train seeming to +melt into the whiteness of the marble on which she stood. + +And then, almost at once it seemed, it was all over. The little Captain +had made her new vows, the ring was on her hand, the blessing on her +bowed head. Quite solemnly Mr. Robert kissed her, then the organ broke +out with a burst that filled the great church, and fairly beat down the +rising throngs, as the married couple, passing under the crossed staves, +passed down the aisle and out into their new life. + +The Guard of Honor, in their automobiles once more and whirling after +the bridal car to the reception, found their tongues and all talked at +once. No one listened; no one cared. They went through a canopied, +carpeted tunnel across the sidewalk to the house, and there were firmly +handled by a bevy of colored maids who took their staffs and hats and +sent them forth with nothing to do with their hands. But Mr. Robert +shook all the hands they had, and the little Captain kissed them each +and every one. And then she asked them to form just back of her until +she had greeted all the guests. This took a long time, but was such fun, +because they saw everyone and all the dresses, and everything. + +But finally the line thinned out, the congratulations were over, and the +little Captain, taking her filmy train over her arm, drifted out among +the guests and the girls broke up into groups. A little later Rosanna +came hurrying around to tell the girls to come to the library. They +found the Captain and her husband there, talking to a chubby, smiling, +altogether kindly and delightful little gentleman, who stared beamingly +at them through immense horn-rimmed spectacles. + +"I want to present you to Doctor Branshaw, girls," said Mrs. Horton. "He +came all the way from Cincinnati to attend our wedding and to meet you." + +The girls stepped up one by one to be presented to the great man. + +"I didn't see any other way of meeting you all," he said. "My time is +always so broken, and they keep me so busy down there that I actually +didn't have time to write and tell you how greatly I appreciated that +book you sent me. I think it was quite the nicest thing in the world. I +shall always keep it." + +"It was poor thanks for what you did for Gwenny," said Miss Jamieson, +finding that someone had to answer. + +"I was glad to do it," said the Doctor, "after you had led the way. It +is an honor to work with the Girl Scouts. When you are twice as old, +yes, three times as old as you are now, you will realize what a +wonderful work you are doing in the world. I come across evidences of it +every day. This Gwenny, for instance. Did you see the way she went down +that long aisle tonight? Why, that girl is going to be well, perfectly +well! Think of the years of pain and misery you have saved her, the +agonizing nights and the untimely death. Whose plan was it, anyway?" + +"Rosanna Horton's," said half a dozen voices. + +Rosanna flushed. "No, don't say that!" she objected. "It is just as the +doctor says. If I thought of it it was because I am a Scout. Call it the +Girl Scouts' Plan." + +"Yours or theirs, Miss Rosanna; it was a divine thought and should make +you all happy. You have given the three greatest boons to a fellow +creature: life, health, and happiness, and all because your splendid +order teaches you to watch for just such opportunities. Now I will give +you an opportunity to do a good deed tonight," and he laughed the +jolliest laugh. "There are a couple of very wise gentlemen here tonight, +who would like to talk to me, and they would want to talk about +operations and anesthetics and all those things that I left locked up in +my office at home. But I can't tell them that, so I wish you could just +look after me for the next hour, and sort of beau me around, you know, +and if you see any bald heads or spectacles bearing down on us, just +close in and protect me." + +"Oh, we will!" chorused the girls, greatly pleased. + +So the great Dr. Branshaw, quite the greatest and most eminent man +present, passed happily from room to room surrounded and tagged by a +chatting, smiling throng of uniformed girls. + +When a cheering looking line of waiters appeared with plates and +napkins, the great man and his little court settled in a cozy nook and +proceeded to fly in the face of all the best health experts. And to see +the Doctor shamelessly send for more bouillon, and consume sandwiches, +and sliced turkey, and candied sweet potato and salad, and oh, dear, all +_sorts_ of things, was enough to make any Scout hungry, and they just +feasted and feasted. + +Although the doctor refused to talk to the wise men, he did talk to the +girls, getting on the subject dearest to him, as all professional men +will, and telling them many an amusing story and pathetic incident. + +Finally he rose. "I must go, girls," he said. "I said good-bye to Mrs. +Horton when I came in, so I could just slip out a little side door there +is here." + +He shook hands all around and patted each straight shoulder. "Don't +forget me," he said, "and remember if there is anything I can do to +help, we are all working together. See this?" He smiled and pulled aside +his coat. There on his waistcoat was the Thanks Badge they had sent him. +"I always wear it," he said, and with a merry good-bye hurried through +the little door, and was gone. + +Rosanna went to the hall and looked out. + +"Hurry, hurry!" she called. "Here she comes! We nearly missed her!" + +The bride, in her travelling dress, was coming down the stairs. She +paused on the landing and looked down at the sea of smiling faces below. +Then suddenly she tossed her bouquet out. A dozen hands reached for it, +and the girl who caught it danced up and down. Everyone laughed. + +"What did she do that for?" asked one of the Websters. + +"The one who catches the bride's bouquet," said Miss Jamieson, "will be +the next one married." + +"Quick!" cried Elise. "Let us all form the guard-line for her. Never +mind those staves!" + +Slipping through the throng and out the door, the girls formed a double +line to the automobile waiting at the curb. A great white bow was tied +on the back, and Rosanna quickly took it off and hid it. + +"Cita wouldn't like that," she explained. Then she stood with her hand +on the door. The house door opened and in a blaze of light, confetti and +rice showering about her, rose leaves floating above her, the little +bride and her tall young husband ran down the steps and through the +double line of Scouts, who closed solidly before the door of the +limousine as she entered it. The other guests were shut out. For that +moment she was again their little Captain and belonged to them alone. +Forming in a solid group, they suddenly shouted the Girl Scout yell, +threw her a shower of kisses, and crying good-bye over and over, watched +her little hand wave a farewell as the car sprang forward. + + * * * * * + +Helen and Elise were Rosanna's guests for the night. A couch had been +prepared so the three girls could sleep in the same room. They rolled +themselves up in bathrobes, and sat on the edge of the couch just as +they had sat on the top step so many months ago, only this time Elise +did not knit. She too sat with her chin in her hands, staring out of the +window. Rosanna had snapped off the light. A million stars in a deep +frosty sky looked down on them. The night sparkled. It was very, very +late, but Mrs. Horton with surpassing wisdom had not asked them to go +right to bed. She too was awake, dreaming long dreams. + +Presently Elise spoke. "So much of happiness makes me sad," she said. + +"Well, it is all over," sighed Rosanna. + +"Not at all!" cried Elise. "What could be over? Not Meeses Horton, who +is just beginning. Not us, who have so many, many works to do. Not +Gwenny who steps into a new life. Just see all those stars. They shine +and sparkle always, no matter what goes on down here." + +"You sound like a little sermon, Elise dear," said Helen, smiling. + +"I don't know just yet what it is you call sermon, but I hope it is +nice," replied Elise. + +"Yours is, anyway," said Rosanna, kissing the fair face beside her. + +"All I meant was that this is over, the wedding and all that. Oh, of +course I didn't mean that _everything_ was over. It is just as though a +beautiful day had ended, as it has," Rosanna continued. "Others will +come, many, many other busy, beautiful days, and on my honor, I will try +to do my duty to God and my country, to help other people at all times +and to obey the Scout laws," said Rosanna softly, lifting her eyes to +the eternal stars. + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Girl Scouts Rally, by Katherine Keene Galt + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY *** + +***** This file should be named 38152.txt or 38152.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/1/5/38152/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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