Gerry and of the somewhat marked
interest they apparently felt in each other, but she did not take the
fact seriously. Already he had asked several times that he and Gerry be
allowed to spend an afternoon together and Mrs. Burton had promptly
consented. No longer did she cherish the illusion that she could hide
away her Camp Fire girls in even the remotest corners of the globe
without their being discovered. Therefore, after her foolish alarm over
Bettina and her unconventional Indian friendship, she had concluded not
to be so nervous a second time, but to trust to the discretion of the
girls themselves.

Among the seven Camp Fire girls Gerry was exceptionally pretty and so
could not fail to receive attention. But not for a single moment did
Mrs. Burton dream that there was anything more than a superficial
attraction between Gerry and Felipe. Of course she considered Gerry too
young, not realizing that Felipe Morris was four years her senior and
that Gerry's history had made her older than most girls of her age.

Yet after the verdict was reached and the actors secured, there still
remained many details to be settled, the most important being the
selection of the characters for the production of the Shakespearean
comedy. Then, although there was a good deal of discussion, and Mrs.
Burton allowed a free expression of opinion, in each choice she
remained the court of final decision.

It was she who at the beginning of the discussion settled upon Marta
Clark for the character of _Celia_, sweet cousin to _Rosalind_ and
second only in importance. In consequence Marta, who had not expected
the honor, suffered a confusion of emotions, surprise, pleasure, alarm!
Mrs. Burton had not forgotten their absurd first meeting, nor Marta's
shy confession of an ambition to follow in her footsteps. If she had
ability--and it was more than probable since her brother had lately
written a clever play showing a dramatic gift in the family--Mrs. Burton
had every intention of aiding Marta in her desire when the right moment
arrived. This would be but a slight return in memory of the friend who
so generously had helped her in the old days.

Moreover, Mrs. Burton felt that she and Marta must learn to know each
other better. To play beside her as _Celia_, to be with each other
constantly at rehearsals would not only afford her the chance to test
Marta's talent, but would give them an opportunity to become better
friends.

Marta possessed vi