eeding necessary."

Then, ashamed of the word she had employed, she continued more gently.

"So you have been making a tour of investigation because you considered
that I was neglecting my duty? All I can say, Aunt Patricia, is that you
will always discover Sally Ashton flirting if there is an agreeable man
in sight. I cannot make up my mind whether or not Sally is unconscious,
yet flirting with her is either an instinct, an art, or both. However,
every man who sees her immediately succumbs. But as for Peggy, Peggy is
an absolutely trustworthy person! Did I not tell you that Peggy
considers herself engaged to Ralph Marshall, who is in the aviation
service in France at the present time? None of Peggy's family will
acknowledge her engagement; we feel she is too young, yet Ralph's
parents are old friends of my sister and brother-in-law. After a time I
am sure you will understand the Camp Fire Girls better."

There was undeniably a tone of condescension in Mrs. Burton's voice, and
Aunt Patricia sniffed.

"I understand the girls as well as I consider necessary, Polly Burton,
and probably better than you do. I have always insisted that you have
little knowledge of human nature. As for thinking that a girl of Peggy's
age, with almost no experience of life, can have any idea of the
character of man she could or should marry----"

But here, realizing that Miss Patricia was mounted upon one of her
favorite hobbies and that nothing she could say or do would stop her,
Mrs. Burton, pretending to offer a polite attention, in reality allowed
her mind to wander.

Miss Patricia was usually antagonistic to all male persons safely past
their babyhood. Among her friends it was an open question whether Aunt
Patricia had been jilted at an early age, or whether she had never
condescended to an admirer.

"All men are idiots," is what she had been known to remark when hard
pressed.

Gradually Mrs. Burton allowed herself to slip back in her chair, resting
her head more comfortably against a brown velvet cushion.

It was strange that she had felt so little fear of the submarine menace
during the present voyage, when she had expected to be fearful the
entire way across. There were odd moments at night when one could not
sleep, thinking of the possible, even the probable danger that might
manifest itself at any moment. But aside from obeying the ship's rules
with regard to life belts and lights, the keeping of one's state-room
door unlat