ince pretty things with
me last about one day. I don't see how it is you keep yours so nice and
fresh, Ruth."

"It's because I'm careful, dear."

"Careful! Bosh! Care killed a cat, they say. I'm sure I'm careful,
too---- Oh, here's that lace collar I've been looking everywhere for!"

She made a sudden reach for it, there was a ripping, tearing sound, and
Alice was gazing ruefully at a rent in the sleeve of her dress.

"Oh, for the love of trading stamps!" she ejaculated.

"Alice!" gasped Ruth.

"Well, I don't care! I had to say something. Look at that rip! And I
wanted to wear this dress to-day. Oh----"

"That's just it, Alice," interrupted Ruth, in a gentle, chiding voice.
"You are too impulsive. If you had reached for that lace less hurriedly
you wouldn't have torn your dress. And if you took care of your things
and didn't let your laces and ribbons get strewn about so, they would
last longer and look fresher. I don't want to lecture----"

"I know you don't, you old dear!" and Alice leaned over--they were both
sitting on the floor in front of trunks--and made a motion as though to
embrace her sister. But a warning rip caused her to desist, and, looking
over her shoulder, she found her skirt caught on a corner of the trunk.

"There! Did you ever?" she cried. "I can't even give you a
sisterly hug without pulling myself to pieces. I'm all
upset--excited--unstrung--Wellington Bunn doing Hamlet isn't to be
compared to me. I must get straightened out."

"I guess that's it--you're all tangled up in your packing," said Ruth,
with a laugh. "Truly, I don't mean to lecture, Alice, but you must go a
bit slower."

"Not with this packing--I can't, and be ready in time. Why! you are all
prepared to go. I'll just throw the things into my trunk and----"

"Now, don't do that. Don't throw things in. You can put in twice as much
if you lay the things in neatly. I'll help you. But--oh, dear----!"

Ruth made a gesture of despair.

"What's the matter now? What are you registering?" and Alice used the
moving picture term for depicting one of the standard emotions. The
girls were both moving picture actresses.

"I'm trying to register dismay at the muddy state of those scout shoes,
as you call them, Alice. They may be nice and comfortable, as you say,
and really they do look so. And I have no doubt you will find them
useful if we have to do much tramping over the hills of Oak Farm.
But----"

"Oh, we'll have to do plenty of