Although Marjorie felt elated at the girls’ evident desire to go on with the troop, she was too clever to be deceived by Queenie’s enthusiasm, too far-seeing to expect miracles from her . Queenie herself was sincere in her promise, there was no doubt about that; but the others would probably be only half-hearted. She realized that a tremendous amount of work lay before her.  
She resolved, therefore, to make a fresh start. Mr. Richards had told her to let him hear from her; she meant to accept his offer. Calling him upon the telephone, she asked him whether he could spare an evening from his already busy program to talk the matter over and advise her. His answer was cordiality itself; he would be delighted to give her his only free evening that week—which happened to be Wednesday.
 
Marjorie hesitated a moment; Wednesday was John’s night, and she knew that he was not in sympathy with her work for this troop, and might resent her excuse. Nevertheless, the opportunity was too worth-while to turn down, so she thanked Mr. Richards for his kindness and planned to see him at eight o’clock.
 
As usual, however, Lily took John’s part.
 
“I’m afraid this Mr. Richards is becoming interested in you, Marj,” she remarked. “And that simply won’t do. It isn’t fair to John——”
 
“Nonsense, Lil! He has something else to think about! You’re getting as bad as my girls—thinking every man you see has matrimonial intentions. But Mr. Richards is just unselfishly interested in , and glad to offer a hand to a beginner like me.”
 
“We’ll see,” muttered Lily, significantly. “I believe I’ll be on hand Wednesday night, since I’ve been made of the troop. We’ll watch whether he is pleased with my presence or not.”
 
“I’ll be delighted to have you, Lil, honestly—though not for that reason. Two heads are always better than one, and three than two—we may be able to draw up a very interesting program for those girls——But why do you think that I oughtn’t to see any other man but John? You know we’re not engaged——”
 
“No, but it’s high time you were!”
 
“Maybe he hasn’t asked me!”
 
“Maybe he has!”
 
Marjorie blushed faintly; she never could deceive anyone successfully. But she felt that it would not be fair to John to tell anyone, not even Lily. So instead she turned the discussion to the other girl.
 
“Lil, when are you going to tell me about your engagement?”
 
It was Lily’s turn to blush.
 
“How do you know that there’s anything to tell?”
 
“Because I just do. And—you know you can trust me!”
 
Lily smiled ; she could count upon Marjorie to keep her secret. And it would be such a satisfaction to share her happiness with her chum.
 
“Well, so long as you have guessed it, I’ll tell you, if you promise not to breathe to any of the others. Dick and I are going to announce it at Christmas time. Mother is planning a for me.”
 
Marjorie put her arms around Lily and kissed her . Her happiness meant almost as much to her as her own.
 
“Dick Roberts is the luckiest man in the world!” she exclaimed, with . “And,” she added, “it certainly will be fun to have a wedding. Nothing exciting has happened in our old senior patrol since Mae Van Horn’s wedding—and our trip to the coast.”
 
“Don’t forget Doris’s baby!” Lily reminded her.
 
“Oh, yes, of course—and Ethel has been doing wonderful things, too, with that teaching job of hers. And I really think Daisy’s in line for a fellowship, next year.”
 
“So you see we really have been pretty much alive,” Lily concluded.
 
“Everybody but Alice, and Florence—and me!” sighed the other.
 
“I won’t agree about the last one,” objected her room-mate, her eyes filled with . “You’re always doing marvellous things.”
 
“I’m afraid not, Lil!” An unsatisfied look crept over her face. At present Marjorie’s powers did not stand high in her own estimation.
 
“The trouble with me is, I can’t get my ’ point of view,” she remarked, back to the old subject. “I can’t seem to realize that they aren’t our dear old senior patrol, who got a thrill out of anything connected with scouting. In one way they know so much more than we ever did—they’re so experienced—but in another they’re ignorant and blind, and deaf besides. One thing I learned at the hike—they are bored to death with nature. I might just as well cross hiking and camping off of my program.”
 
“Until later, perhaps,&............