The
sweetness of the music made her think of home, and the earnest words of
the minister sank deep into her heart. She, who had so much to thank her
father and mother for, had carelessly allowed the name of Harlowe to be
dragged into the limelight of police court news. She was unworthy of her
parents' confidence. That she was unjustly severe in her
self-arraignment did not occur to Grace. It was her first experience
with real remorse and, as is usually the case, she did not allow herself
the luxury of extenuating circumstances.

When she bowed her head during the concluding prayer her eyes were full
of tears and it was only by desperate effort that she managed to wink
them back.

"Father wants to see us now, you know," Mabel reminded her guests, as
they took their places once more in the automobile. "To Father's
office," she directed the chauffeur, and the car with its freight of
happy girls glided down the avenue toward the section of the city in
which Mr. Ashe's office was situated.

"Of course, Father's employees don't work to-day," explained Mabel as
they rolled along. "His private secretary is with him, but his offices
are closed. He wishes us to take luncheon with him, then we are to go
for a drive through Central Park. You've taken that drive before, I
suppose, but it is such a beautiful day and all New York will be in
evidence. I thought you would enjoy seeing the world and his wife out
for a holiday."

"We have hardly seen enough of Central Park to grow tired of it," smiled
Grace. "Anne is a seasoned New Yorker and so is Elfreda, but Miriam and
I never stayed here for any length of time. Patience will have to answer
for herself."

"My knowledge of the metropolis is vague, and my experience here has
consisted largely in being rushed from the depot to the hotel, and from
the hotel to the depot. So you can readily see that Central Park is in
the nature of an innovation, to me," responded Patience.

Luncheon was eaten in a restaurant whose extreme exclusiveness made it
an especially desirable place for Mr. Ashe to entertain his daughter and
her guests. The drive through Central Park came next, and it was after
four o'clock before they turned into Riverside Drive for home.

"Please come down to the library as soon as you take off your wraps,"
directed Mabel. "The time for the council has arrived."

"Only Campfire girls have councils," retorted Miriam.

"What do you know about Campfire girls?" demanded Ma