y had seated themselves in characteristic
attitudes about the room, "we've had a little breathing spell now, just
enough time to rest up before the next onslaught."

She paused over the word, smiled, and they smiled back at her.

"Of course that means," Betty interpreted, "that not only the boys but
hundreds of their relatives and friends are coming to be entertained and
housed and amused."

"Exactly," nodded Mrs. Watson. "And, of course, the work that you girls
have done--"

"And you," Betty interjected loyally, but Mrs. Watson brushed the
interruption aside with a wave of her hand, though she flushed happily.

"Of course I've done my part of it," she agreed modestly. "But equally of
course I couldn't have done it if you girls hadn't stood shoulder to
shoulder with me. And," she added, enthusiastically, "it has been more the
spirit with which you did the work than the actual work itself that has
won such a reputation for our Hostess House here."

"'Reputation!'" repeated Mollie wonderingly, then added with an impish
inflection: "Oh, have we one of those things?"

"We have," responded Mrs. Watson, with an indulgent smile. "And, whether
deserved or not, modesty would prompt us to say that it is not, of
course--" and the girls laughed amusedly. "Our reputation is unusually
good and unusually widespread. So good, in fact, that the boys are glad
when they find they are to be sent to Camp Liberty."

"Yes," Betty nodded thoughtfully, "several boys have told me that, but I
thought they only said it in a spirit of gratitude, or perhaps, as
flattery."

"That is modest," said Mrs. Watson with another smile. "But," she added,
leaning forward in her chair and speaking earnestly, "I honestly think
that you girls don't even begin to realize what a wonderful work you have
been doing right here in this little city that sprang up over night. It
isn't a small thing, you know--sending thousands of our boys away cheered
and strengthened, armed to meet the future--better men, just for having
met you.

"And the mothers and wives and sweethearts who have been entertained so
royally and permitted to say good-bye to their loved ones under the very
best and cheeriest conditions possible--why, they have spoken to me of you
with tears in their eyes!"

There were tears in their own eyes as the girls smiled happily at her.

"But it's been such fun," Mollie protested, "just seeing how much you can
make people forget their troubles."