white. There now--what do you
think of that?"

"So do I, Susan," laughed her sister. "I've done it for several years. It
certainly does improve the color. Grey hairs grow so yellow looking. The
child is right. We ought to keep ourselves up while we're able. We polish
up old mahogany and keep it fresh and clean--why not old women?" and the
two laughed merrily.

"I think the Camp Fire business has made a woman of Ethel, don't you?"

"How could it fail to?" said Aunt Susan. "Women are coming into
their own, Alice. They're growing sensible and self-reliant. Look
at our Grandmothers and at us. Do you notice the difference? And
our grandchildren will be just as far ahead of us as we are of our
grandmothers. Isn't it wonderful?"

"I like you Western people," said Mrs. Hollister, coming in at that
moment followed by Ethel.

"I've just told Mother," said the girl, "that Western people can give
points to us. They are natural, kind-hearted, hospitable, and they seldom
measure their friendship by the amount of people's bank accounts. With
them it's character that talks."

"How did you like my sanitarium, Bella?" asked Aunt Susan.

"I couldn't half express myself," replied Mrs. Hollister. "You're a
wonderful woman, Aunt Susan, and the people here have cause to bless
you. I've never before admitted this to Ethel, but I'm very glad that
she came here last summer. I see my short-sightedness every day when
I look back and realize how I was bringing her up," and Mrs. Hollister
wiped her eyes.

"You've been a lovely and kind mother to me," replied Ethel. "You have
sacrificed far too much for me and I never half appreciated it."

"I have been an unwise mother my dear," said she, "and you stopped
me just in time. I only now begin to realize my limitations. I've been
self-centered and conceited."

Ethel kissed her mother affectionately, and the two old ladies coughed
and knitted vigorously.

"We are all liable to make mistakes, Bella," said Aunt Susan. "Yours has
been in loving your child too dearly."

CHAPTER VI

UNCLE JOHN'S

They arrived in Columbus where Uncle John greeted them affectionately and
insisted upon kissing his sister-in-law. Mrs. Hollister was persuaded not
to go to camp until after a few days, when the girls should be settled.
Then Uncle John was to take her up. So Ethel, Kate, and the girls, with
one new member, went alone.

Save that Nora Casey wore mourning and seemed quiet, everything was the