hope," she added, "that Ruth will find no more waifs and strays."

"Don't be knocking Ruthie all the time," said Tom, glancing back over his
shoulder. "She's all right."

"And you keep your eyes straight ahead, young man," advised Aunt Kate, "or
you will have this heavy car in the ditch."

"Watch out for Henri and Heavy, too," advised Helen. "They do not quite
know what they are about and you may run them down. There! See his
horizon-blue sleeve steal about her? He's got only one hand left to steer
with. Talk about a perfect thirty-six! It's lucky Henri's arm is
phenomenally long, or he could never surround _that_ baby!"

"I declare, Helen," laughed Ruth. "I believe you are covetous."

"Well, Henri is an awfully nice fellow--for a Frenchman."

"And you are the damsel who declared you proposed to remain an old maid
forever and ever and the year after."

"I can be an old maid and still like the boys, can't I? All the more, in
fact. I sha'n't have to be true to just one man, which, I believe, would
be tedious."

"You should live in that part of New York called Greenwich Village and
wear a Russian blouse and your hair bobbed. Those are the kind of bon mots
those people throw off in conversation. Light and airy persiflage, it is
called," said Tom from the front seat.

"What do you know about such people, Tommy?" demanded his sister.

"There were some co-eds of that breed I met at Cambridge. They were
exponents of the 'new freedom,' whatever that is. Bolshevism, I guess.
Freedom from both law and morals."

"Those are not the kind of girls who are helping in France," said Ruth
soberly.

"You said it!" agreed Tom. "That sort are so busy riding hobbies over here
that they have no interest in what is going on in Europe unless it may be
in Russia. Well, thank heaven, there are comparatively few nuts compared
with us sane folks."

Such thoughts as these, however, did not occupy their minds for long. Just
as Tom had declared, they were out for fun, and the fun could be found
almost anywhere by these blithe young folk.

Ruth's face actually changed as they journeyed on. She was both "pink and
pretty," Helen declared, before they camped at the wayside for luncheon.

The hampers on the big car were crammed with all the necessities of food
and service for several meals. There were, too, twin alcohol lamps, a
coffee boiler and a teapot.

Altogether they were making a very satisfactory meal and were having a
jolly time