The Three Midshipmen

for the girls to hold as a beautiful memory through the months to come. It fell on a lovely evening, a cool breeze blowing from the water, and a young

e with its fringes and embroideries. "I don't feel a bit as if I were prosaic Laura Hav

y must have had all the braves at their feet," returned Anne, with an ad

ng them carelessly over her shoulders, "but this beautif

e Busy Corner girls will be pr

eady learned to love. She turned eagerly as the bugle notes of the Council call ra

ant their Guardians to

n. Flaming torches would have been more picturesque, but also more dangerous in the woods, and all risk of fire must be avoided. After the Torch Bearers came the Fire Makers, and last of

h the irregular woods-path Lau

id. "If it wasn't that I want to be a part of i

ssion wound to the music of the young voices, the lanterns throwing flashes of light on either side, while the s

ines. The open side faced the bay, and across the water glimmered a tiny golden pathw

ing a stick, laid it where the fire was to be. As the last stick was brought, the Fire Makers moved forward and swiftly and skilfully set the wood rea

nts echoing with a solemn sweetness among the tall pines

h name and announced the honours, the girl came forward and received her beads from the Chief Guardian. Mrs. Royall had a smile and a pleasant

a great victory. You all know how fearful and timid she was, for you yourselves called her-Bunny. Now she has fo

gathered earl

nto the heart of the glowing fire. "It is gone forever," she said, her hand agai

d with radiant eyes looking about the circle until Mrs. Royall said, "Myra, we give you to-night your new name

le of intent faces. "There is another who has conquered th

to tell her and give her a little push forward before she realised that Mrs. Royall was waiting for her. For a second she drew back; then, catching he

e old one, but writing it on a bit of bark as she had written Myra's, she told the girl to drop it into the fire. Elizabeth obeyed-she had never known wh

ter a little silence, "Adawá

yall repeated. "Is that right? Is it the r

the response from tw

said Mrs. Royall, looking down again into t

he honours that

knew how Olga had compelled her to do things, but no one had imagined that there would be anything like this long list-least of all had Elizab

mistake. I couldn't have a

ere is no mistake. The record has been carefully kept and verified; but you se

her head the necklace with its red and blue and orange

ught to have the honours instead

baby!" Olga flung at her sav

ispered, "Olga Priest, don't yo

a why she was called. Laura, standing beside Mrs. Royall, smiled happily at the gir

he will wear them worthily, and that her life will be better and happier because of that for which they stand. We recognise the fact, however, that but

ut we have for you something that we hope you will value because we all have a share in it, every one in the camp; and we ask you to wear this because you have show

dn't know-Elizabeth--" and then to her own utter consternation came a rush of tears. Tears! And she had lived dry-eyed through four years of lonely misery. C

lo mea

so deep that self is forgot

ts. Would she be scornful now-or would she be glad? Elizabeth felt that she never, never could endure it if Olga were scor

forehead and bent her proud head for Elizabeth to fasten it in place. Elizabeth did it with fingers trembling with happy excitement. The coldness that had so often chilled her was all gone now from the dark eyes. Olga underst

h and love," she said, "you all know that-the three best things

ne Wentwo

o means

the girls took

lo mea

means

service so deep tha

means

e refrain was repeated softly and lingeringly, again and yet again. Mrs. Royal

r conquest over weakness, and that is better yet. But two of our number have worked and conquered, not for honour, not for love of labour, not even for self-conquest-but for unse

girl placed her right hand over her h

Law of

strive

l the s

rance of

er of m

ness of

mth of

cerity of m

kers extinguished the embers, pouring water over them till not a spark remained. The lanterns

er Council Fire like this for months-even if we come here n

ie Carroll. "With Myra's honours and Elizabeth's,

d," laughed Louise. "But, say, girls-that Po

, hush!" she cried in a tone of real distress, f

, girls," she added with her usual giggle, "I feel as if I'd been wound up to concert pitch and I've got to let down somehow.

o minutes later the girls were

Anne. "I wanted to keep the impression of

won't forget this meeting, even if they do have to 'react' a bit. I'm sure that even Louise