presence after her first display of affection, so apparently Lucy
lost the desire or the courage.

Immediately the Girl Scouts departed for their sleeping tents
accompanied by their Troop Captain.

Miss Mason would return to say good-night to Kara and see that she was
comfortable for the night. In the meantime there was the final evening
ceremony with her Girl Scouts.

In the big room at present were only Tory, Miss Frean and Mr. Fenton,
save for the girl in the wheeled chair.

Mr. Fenton approached Kara.

"I trust so many visitors and so much excitement will not be harmful
to you," he said in the dignified fashion that always charmed Kara and
his own niece. Mr. Fenton never addressed them as if they were merely
young girls and of no special importance.

Always his manner was courtly and agreeable.

Toward Kara he extended a box of candy which he had been carrying
under his arm.

"I know candy is to a large extent a forbidden fruit at camp. But as
you are a kind of uncrowned queen these days, Kara, I thought you
might be permitted to offer a sweet now and then to your ladies in
waiting."

During this conversation Tory had crossed over to Miss Frean,
persuading her to be seated on a low bench and sitting down beside
her.

"I was deeply offended with you, Memory, an hour ago when you held a
'mirror up to nature,' my nature. I detest being lectured. Just the
same, I promise to try not to bore Kara too much with my society and
to give the other girls more opportunity. But dear me, I did think I
was doing the right thing! Often I have wanted dreadfully to go off on
our Scouting expeditions and have remained at camp because I thought
Kara needed me and did not wish the other girls to be sacrificed. It
does require an extraordinary number of virtues to be a good Scout."

Memory Frean shook her head.

"I don't believe I would put the case in just that fashion, Tory. To
be a good Scout demands first of all common sense. You have the
artistic temperament, Tory, and common sense is perhaps more difficult
for you. Glad you are willing to be friends again."

Memory Frean and Mr. Richard Fenton walked back together to the House
in the Woods. They had not been alone with each other in more than
twenty years.

CHAPTER XIII

A PORTRAIT

Several days later Tory Drew, accompanied by two other of her Troop of
Girl Scouts, went forth to spend the morning sketching, not far from
their camp.

Her companions w