Read Ebook: The Girl Scouts' Vacation Adventures by Lavell Edith

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Ebook has 1833 lines and 51901 words, and 37 pages

"Certainly not!" announced Florence, emphatically. "It's sheer nonsense! But of course we can easily send her to an orphan asylum later on--when the woman dies."

"Florence! You cruel, heartless girl!"

Daisy held the baby close up in her arms, as if she were afraid it might understand the cold-blooded remark, and be hurt.

"But Daisy, we can't afford to pay somebody to take care of it--to assume its support. Neither one of our families is rich enough. And you certainly don't expect to lug it with us back to Miss Allen's?"

"No," admitted the other, smiling at the absurdity of such an idea. She was almost beginning to regret her action, viewed from Florence's common-sense point of view. "Will your mother be angry?"

"No; she and Edith will both think you were wonderful to do it. They're both dipped on the charity stuff."

Daisy breathed a sigh of relief; it was something to have Mrs. Evans's and her oldest daughter's approval of her impetuosity.

The girls were greeted at the door by all the members of the Evans family. Edith had noticed the taxi from the window, had seen Daisy's bundle which she identified as a baby, and had rushed out in breathless curiosity.

Daisy entered the hall first, vainly attempting to hide her excitement, while Florence followed in haughty disdain.

"Where did you get the baby?" demanded Edith, in amazement. "Do let me see!"

"Oh, the poor thing needs a bath!" said Mrs. Evans, taking it from Daisy's arms. "And is probably hungry, too!"

In broken sentences, Daisy managed to tell her story, apologizing profusely for her audacity in bringing the child to her hostess's home. But both Mrs. Evans and Edith immediately silenced her by assuring her of their sanction of her deed.

"It's exactly what I would have done myself," said Mrs. Evans, "and I am so glad you were there to offer, for such a thing never would have occurred to Florence."

"Hardly!" remarked her younger daughter. "I'm too practical; I'd have counted the cost first."

"Oh, we'll get the money somehow!" asserted Daisy, confidently. "I'll put it up to Marj Wilkinson, and she'll find a way!" Ever since Marjorie had been so instrumental in uniting her sister Olive with her husband, Daisy had come to regard her as resourceful in a crisis of almost any variety.

"The important thing now," remarked Mrs. Evans, "is to care for the baby at the present, and let the future take care of itself. If the woman lives, Daisy will be responsible for saving her life; for I am sure she would have died if you had not sent her to the hospital. Now--suppose you girls all get to work! Edith, run across the street and borrow enough of little Bobbie's clothing to dress the baby clean! Florence, you go to the drug store for a nursing bottle; and Daisy, you help me to bathe her. Once we get her comfortable, we can begin to think about what to buy."

The girls separated to carry out the older woman's orders, Daisy secretly delighted that the task she had been assigned kept her there with the baby.

Almost immediately Edith returned with the borrowed outfit, and Mrs. Evans proceeded to undress the child. The state of her clothing was really pitiful; indeed, it could hardly be dignified by that name, but rather resembled rags, held together by safety-pins. Moreover, they were soiled, and little Betty herself was none too clean.

But soap and warm water wrought wonders, and under Mrs. Evans's skillful handling the little creature was soon snugly tucked in bed, sucking at the bottle of diluted milk which was propped up by her side. All of the girls felt a secret thrill at the transformation they had witnessed, and even Florence began to regret her hastiness in denouncing Daisy's action.

It was not until the baby was asleep and they were all down in the living room that Mrs. Evans remembered that she had a telephone message for the girls.

"Marjorie Wilkinson phoned," she said, "and said she would stop here on her way to Lily's, so I persuaded her to stay to supper. She finally admitted that she was not expected there until after supper, because it seems the Andrews all have to go to a wedding."

"Oh, Joy!" cried Daisy, jumping to her feet in delight. "Just the very person we want to see! Who ever heard of such luck?"

"Of course it will be great to see Marj," agreed Florence; "but why do you say she is 'just the person we want to see'--any more than any other of our best friends?"

"Why, because she'll be able to help us plan how to take care of little Betty!" replied Daisy, immediately.

They did not have long to wait for their visitor. In less than half an hour, while Mrs. Evans and Edith were out making their purchases, Marjorie arrived.

In spite of the fact that Daisy had not seen her since the previous fall, she found her unchanged; Marjorie Wilkinson was the same sparkling, vivacious girl she had been at Miss Allen's. A year at college had not even seemed to make her a day older.

"You look wonderful, Marj!" she cried, as both she and Florence embraced her at once. "I don't have to ask whether college agrees with you!"

"It's great!" announced Marjorie, smiling from one girl to the other; "and rooming with Lily makes it ten times nicer. I'm so thankful I was able to persuade her to go."

"You wouldn't have much trouble persuading me, if I had the money," remarked Daisy.

"Oh, you'll get the scholarship," said Florence, with assurance. Then, turning to explain to Marjorie, "You know we have a college scholarship now at Miss Allen's, founded by some rich donor. And there isn't a doubt that Daisy will get it this year!"

"How about you and Alice?" asked Daisy, flushing at the other girl's tribute.

"We don't stand a ghost of a chance," replied Florence.

The mention of Miss Allen's naturally sharpened Marjorie's curiosity for news, and both Florence and Daisy told her all they could think of, about the girls she knew, the scout troop, and their new captain.

"And what are the troop's plans for this summer?" asked Marjorie, secretly envious of the girls who were still active members.

"The usual camping trip, I believe," replied Daisy. "But Flos and I have decided not to go."

"Why?" asked Marjorie, her eyes, wide open with astonishment at the thought of losing such an opportunity.

"We'd miss the dear old senior patrol too much," replied Daisy, sadly. "Girl Scouts will never be the same to me without you and Lily and Doris--"

"And Ethel Todd and Mae Van Horn," added Florence. "The bunch that was together last summer on the ranch."

"Well, I guess we'll see most everybody tomorrow at Lily's luncheon," remarked Marjorie. "I understand it's to be a sort of reunion."

"And an engagement shower, too," put in Daisy. "But we don't know whom it's for. Not you, Marj?"

"Mercy, no! Far from it! I haven't the slightest idea--unless it's Mae or Doris. I haven't heard from them much during the year."

"It isn't Lily herself?"

"Oh, no! Positively not! How about you two?"

Both Daisy and Florence laughed at the suggestion, and the former seized the opportunity to tell Marjorie about the baby. She related the story just as it had happened, omitting, however, any mention of Florence's opposition.

"So you see I'm dying to keep her," she concluded: "but of course I can't afford it. Can you think of any possible way?"

Marjorie was silent for a moment, lost in thought.

"Yes," she said, finally. "Couldn't you put it up to Pansy Troop to provide for her as another of their good turns?"

Daisy's spirits, which had brightened at the intimation of a solution, sank again when she heard the reply. She shook her head sadly.

"Couldn't be done, Marj! We run on a budget now, and all the money we can possibly raise for charity next year is already pledged. I'm afraid that's out of the question."

Marjorie appeared disappointed, and Florence drew down the corners of her mouth to hide a smile. Before anything further could be said they were reminded of the baby's presence by a sudden cry. Daisy dashed up stairs at once, with Marjorie and Florence at her heels.

"Oh, she's adorable!" exclaimed Marjorie, for she was a girl who loved babies under any circumstances, even when they cried.

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