she
may be."

And Bettina nodded in agreement.

CHAPTER III

"A LONG TIME GOING OVER THERE"

In a week Mrs. Burton and the Sunrise Camp Fire unit sailed from a port
somewhere in the United States to a port somewhere in France. Not only
were they accompanied by Miss Patricia Lord, but apparently they were
led by her. Whenever any information had to be imparted it was always
Miss Patricia who gave it and she also appeared to settle all questions
and all disputes. Under ordinary circumstances the Camp Fire girls would
have been annoyed, but at present they were too absorbed in a hundred
interests and as many emotions to be more than vaguely aware of Miss
Patricia's existence.

Mrs. Burton, in spite of finding her own position frequently usurped and
her opinions regarded as of small value, nevertheless from the moment of
leaving New York felt a sensation of gratitude each time she glanced at
Aunt Patricia's homely and uncompromising countenance. In time past they
had weathered many storms together; if there were storms ahead Miss
Patricia could be counted upon to remain firm as the Rock of Gibraltar.
Difficult and domineering, yet behind her brusqueness there was great
good sense. Moreover, Mrs. Burton knew that Miss Patricia possessed the
gift of kindness which is the rarest of human qualities. The Irish humor
was there also, although now and then it might be hidden out of sight
and only used by Miss Patricia as she used her Irish brogue in moments
of special stress.

Conscious that her group of Camp Fire girls was not pleased by the
addition of a new member to their party, Mrs. Burton hoped in time they
might come to appreciate Miss Patricia's real value, although she made
no effort to propitiate them at the start.

The leave-taking these days is perhaps the hardest portion of the
journey to France. One must say farewell with apparent cheerfulness to
one's family and friends, assuming that whatever dangers may lie in wait
for other people, for you there can be only plain sailing, since this is
the gallant spirit these tragic times demand. But for the Camp Fire
girls there was also a certain fear that they might find themselves
unfit for the service they wished to offer. However, there was no
faltering and no regret, but only tremendous inspiration in the
knowledge that they were to be the first American Camp Fire girls to
enter France upon a special mission and with a special message to French
girls.