nd then
with a somewhat less self-righteous expression, "Was that quotation from
the Bible or Shakespeare and did I quote correctly? The truth is I wish
that all of you would not be so hard upon Gerry. I know you think it
silly and impossible for a girl not yet eighteen to be _really_ in love,
but just the same Gerry is in love with Felipe. As she is in love with
him and he has been a coward and is now a fugitive from his own country,
I don't suppose Gerry is so happy that all of you need be disagreeable
about her. Personally I am perfectly sure that if Gerry wishes Tante's
sympathy and help again, Tante would be sure to do whatever she could to
help her."

"Hats off to Sally!" Bettina Graham remarked and no one disputed the
suggestion. "Still of course, Sally dear, it is impossible that any news
could have been received from Gerry, since she and Felipe must remain
out of the country until the war is over and the whole circumstance of
Felipe is forgotten," Bettina continued. "But suppose when Tante returns
we inquire why we are to wait over in Los Angeles a few days more? I
presume she would not object to explaining. I believe no one asked her
the direct question."

"Yes, but she would have volunteered to tell had she wished us to know,"
Alice Ashton argued.

Vera Lagerloff, who had been sitting by an open window looking out
toward a circle of hills which were like giant amethysts in the
afternoon light, turned toward the other girls.

"Suppose if we have no other plans we spend tomorrow on Mount Lowe and
give Mrs. Burton the opportunity to be alone," she suggested. "We have
been at the seashore so long I am anxious for a day among the hills."

Then she addressed Marta Clark.

"You are mistaken, Marta, if you think all of us here, aside from you,
have some past association with Mrs. Burton. I have none except that
Billy and I always have been friends and he asked his aunt to take an
interest in me. Now Mrs. Burton is going to do something for me which
seems more wonderful than anything she has ever done for any one else,
although I know she has been a fairy godmother to a good many people.
But she is to pay my expenses and allow me to go to France to work in
the devastated country which has lately been cleared of the Germans.
'The Field of Honor' is the name for this part of France which I like
best. I hope to work among the homeless children. But in any case I have
been brought up on a farm and can do farming wo