istance away Lucy was posing. The
other girls were not in sight.

So intent was Tory upon her work that she did not see Lance until he
was within a few yards. Then he called out to her, and Lucy, glad of a
chance to change her position, ran down to meet him.

They came up hand in hand.

"Not so bad, Tory, for a girl, and one no older than you!" Lance
murmured, staring at the drawing of the youthful artist, his brows
drawn into a fine line, half of criticism, half envy.

Donald and Dorothy McClain and most of her younger companions would
have felt only enthusiastic admiration for Tory's work. Had they
known, Lance's attitude was more flattering. He expected more of
Tory's ability than the others knew how to expect.

She shook her head.

"This is my third attempt, Lance, to make a picture of Lucy that I
shall be willing to submit to the judges in our Council or show
father. I can't try again, we are going away from camp so soon. Now
and then I think this may do, and at others I am discouraged. I must
not talk about myself. How did you happen to turn up here? Are you
looking for Dorothy? I hope there is nothing the matter, you are so
serious."

Before it became necessary for Lance to reply a voice interrupted him.

Overhearing the conversation, Dorothy and Louise Miller, who had not
been far away, were returning.

With an unexpected display of affection, Dorothy McClain, not
accustomed to showing her emotions, put her arm through her brother's
and held tight to him.

"What are you doing not in your Scout uniform, Lance? We were just
saying that it was too dreadful to think that our summer camping days
in Beechwood Forest would soon be a thing of the past. Nevertheless, I
will be kind of glad to return to my own family. Tory and Ouida and I
have been making all sorts of plans for the winter. You must help us
with some of them, Lance, you and Don."

"Afraid I won't be able to, Dorothy," Lance answered in an odd voice.

The three girls studied him more intently.

Lucy, seldom interested in the conversation of older persons, had
wandered away and was throwing pebbles into the clear water.

"Why not, Lance? You are not usually unaccommodating, and though you
may consider you are wasting your valuable time to spend any of it
with girls, you won't count Tory and Ouida and me with the others?"

"I won't be at home next winter, Dorothy, at least I think not. I came
out to camp this afternoon to have a private con