e. The one dream of
every girl in the world these days is to be allowed the privilege of
caring for a good-looking soldier. Sally had her opportunity under
particularly romantic and nonsensical circumstances. Besides, men will
always be grateful to Sally Ashton for something or other as long as she
lives, grateful because she is pretty and soft and selfish and, dear me,
I suppose she is what one calls essentially feminine! I confess I have
rather a tender feeling toward the child myself."

And without further answer to his request Miss Patricia hurriedly
departed.

Outdoors at the same time Sally was occupied in the garden digging in a
desultory fashion. As soon as there was no further danger of the ground
freezing the Camp Fire girls were planning to plant a garden.

Sally was alone at her task and alone because she preferred solitude.

After her fantastic escapade had been disclosed to the other Camp Fire
girls, those of them who had been particularly annoyed by her mysterious
behavior were frankly regretful of their condemnation. They did not
whole-heartedly approve of what she had done, but no one doubted Sally's
good intention or the unselfishness of her motive. Aside from Yvonne,
whose attitude continued puzzled and distrustful, each girl individually
had approached Sally with a carefully veiled apology. However, Sally,
who was not in a friendly state of mind toward the world at present,
received their advances coldly.

The only two persons whose opinion she really valued were Aunt
Patricia's and Mrs. Burton's. Aunt Patricia had been kinder and more
understanding than any human being could have dreamed possible. Mrs.
Burton had not yet returned from her journey into southern France.
Indeed, no word had been heard from her in a number of days, so that not
alone did Aunt Patricia suffer from uneasiness. The great German drive
so long expected was fanning the long line of the French battlefront
into fiercer and more terrorizing flames. At any hour the greatest
struggle in human history would once more burst upon the world.

An hour later Sally Ashton knocked shyly upon Lieutenant Fleury's closed
door. She did not do this in accordance with her own wishes, but because
of an urgent appeal made by Miss Patricia.

As a matter of fact, for some days Miss Patricia had been haunted by the
story of his life, since the outbreak of the war, which the young French
officer had recounted to her. He was not conscious of ask