toward the kitchen for the tea, while the
three others sat down.

"Edith Linder has been a success as a Girl Scout this summer, has she
not, Sheila? We did our best to prepare for the honor last winter.
Edith and I realized that Tory opposed her joining your troop."

Tory flushed.

"Is it very kind of you, Memory Frean, to refer to one's past
mistakes, especially when I am your guest?"

Memory Frean laid her large but beautiful hand, a little roughened
from outdoor work, upon Tory Drew's sensitive, slender one.

"I suppose I should apologize to you, Tory. I only meant to say that I
am glad you finally agreed to allow Edith to enter your Patrol. I do
not believe any of you quite realize what the honor meant to her. In a
brief time she seems to have changed more than any one I have ever
known. She had not had much of a chance in the past. Occasionally last
winter, when she was with me, she gave Tory the right to her
prejudice."

The large hand had not been raised from the smaller one.

Still weary, from what cause she could not guess, Tory felt as if the
strength and vitality of the older woman were flowing gently into her.

Scarcely listening more than was necessary for politeness, she leaned
her head against her companion's shoulder.

"I believe one of the most difficult things in the world to realize is
that when people fail to possess the characteristics we have agreed
they ought to possess, the failure nearly always comes from lack of
opportunity, not from choice. I don't mean to be preaching truisms, I
was only thinking of this in connection with the Scout organizations.
They bring opportunities to so many who would have had no chance
otherwise. Edith Linder had never had the opportunity or the spur she
needed. Her ambition to be a good Scout has given her both.

"Wake up, Tory. Are you being nice to Edith as you promised me to be?
She likes and admires you, and I am sure would not mind my speaking of
this."

"There are three girls in our summer camp who have the greatest
personal influence over the others. It is interesting to watch," Miss
Mason remarked, smiling at the older woman. "Of course, under the
circumstances I do not include Kara. Her illness makes her influence
of a different kind at present."

Tory lifted her head, more interested in the discussion.

"Yes, I have noticed this about Margaret Hale and Dorothy McClain. I
am not so sure, I think the third girl is Joan Peters," she ejaculate