you see, are all from rich
homes. And in this country some people who have a lot of money are
trying to make an aristocracy, and the only reason for being in it is
having money. That's all wrong, because in this country the best men
and women have always said and believed that the only thing that
counted was what you were, not what you had."

"Well, I'm not going to feel bad about them, Miss Eleanor. I guess
that if they really were such wonderful people they wouldn't think they
had to talk about it all the time, they'd be sure that people would
find it out for themselves."

"You're very sensible, Bessie, and I only hope the other girls will
take it the same way. I really couldn't blame them if they tried to
get even in some fashion, but I hope they won't, because I don't want
to have any trouble. I'm afraid of Dolly, though."

"I think Dolly's perfectly fine!" said Bessie, enthusiastically. "They
were willing to be nice to her, but she stuck to us, and said she
wouldn't have anything to do with them."

"That's what the Camp Fire has done for her, Bessie. I'm afraid that
if Dolly hadn't joined us, she'd have been as bad as they are, simply
because she wouldn't have stopped to think."

Bessie considered that thoughtfully for a moment before she answered.

"Well, then, Miss Eleanor," she said, finally, "don't you suppose that
if that's so, some of those girls would be just as nice as Dolly, if
they belonged to the Camp Fire and really understood it?"

"I'm sure of it, Bessie--just as sure as I can be! And I do wish there
was some way of making them understand us. I'd rather get girls like
that, who have started wrong, than those who have always been nice."

Contrary to Bessie's expectations, when they reached the Living Camp,
Eleanor made no appeal to the girls to refrain from trying to get even
with the raiders. Eleanor knew that if she gave positive orders that
no such attempt was to be made she would be obeyed, but she felt that
this was an occasion when it would be better to let the girls have free
rein. She knew enough about them to understand that a smouldering fire
of dislike, were it allowed to burn, would do more harm than an
outbreak, and she could only hope that they would not take the matter
too seriously.

"We're all going in bathing this afternoon after lunch," said Dolly to
Bessie, after breakfast. "I asked Miss Eleanor, and she said it would
be all right. The water's cold here, but n