ived home," Ruth said woefully.

"No? Impossible!"

"Yes. I have had an irreparable loss," sighed Ruth. "I'll tell you about
it later."

But for the most part the greetings of the two parties was made up as Tom
said of "Ohs and Ahs."

"Take it from me," the naughty Tom declared to Marchand, "two girls
separated for over-night can find more to tell each other about the next
morning than we could think of if we should meet at the Resurrection!"

The two Cameron cars stood in the station yard, and as the other waiting
cars, taxicabs and "flivvers" departed, "the sacred odor of gasoline,"
which Jennie had remarked upon, was soon dissipated.

The big touring car was expertly packed with baggage, and had a big hamper
on either running-board as well. There was room remaining, however, for
the ladies if they would sit there. But as Tom was to drive the big car he
insisted that Ruth sit with him in the front seat for company. As for his
racing car, he had turned that over to Marchand. It, too, was well laden;
but at the start Jennie squeezed in beside her colonel, and the maroon
speeder was at once whisperingly dubbed by the others "the honeymoon car."

"Poor children!" said Aunt Kate in private to the two other girls. "They
cannot marry until the war is over. _That_ my brother is firm upon,
although he thinks well of Colonel Henri. And who could help liking him?
He is a most lovable boy."

"'Boy!'" repeated Ruth. "And he is one of the most famous spies France has
produced in this war! And a great actor!"

"But we believe he is not acting when he tells us he loves Jennie," Aunt
Kate said.

"Surely not!" cried Helen.

"He is the soul of honor," Ruth declared. "I trust him as I do--well, Tom.
I never had a brother."

"I've always shared Tom with you," pouted Helen.

"So you have, dear," admitted Ruth. "But a girl who has had no
really-truly brother really has missed something. Perhaps good, perhaps
bad. But, at least, if you have brothers you understand men better."

"Listen to the wisdom of the owl!" scoffed Helen. "Why, Tommy is only a
girl turned inside out. A girl keeps all her best and softest attributes
to the fore, while a boy thinks it is more manly to show a prickly
surface--like the burr of a chestnut."

"Listen to them!" exclaimed Aunt Kate, with laughter. "All the wise
sayings of the ancient world must be crammed under those pretty caps you
wear, along with your hair."

"That is what we get at colle