As the girl listened and thought of the old lady’s goodness and how she was visiting her and making over her old gowns, hats, etc., into fashionable ones to ingratiate herself for an object she saw herself as she was—­a hypocrite—­and she fell on her knees to Aunt Susan confessing everything and begging her forgiveness, whereupon the old lady took her in her arms and told her that she knew everything—­that Grandmother and she had made up their minds that Ethel might lose her worldliness under different environments.  Then she told her of the loss of her fortune and the girl was glad, saying as she kissed her, “Now you know that I love you for yourself, Aunt Susan.”

Ethel liked Tom Harper.  He was a fine young man.  He supported Aunt Susan and gave her a liberal allowance but she banked nearly all of it, as she told Ethel “to have something at her death to leave to those whom she loved.”

After visiting her Uncle John’s family, whom she liked at once, Kate, Ethel, and the eight girls started for Camp.  It was situated in a stretch of woods on the banks of the Muskingum river.  One of the girls—­Patty Sands—­became Ethel’s chum.  She was motherless and the only child of Judge Sands, ex-congressman of Ohio, and greatly respected.  The rest of the girls were also congenial save two—­one a Mattie Hastings, whom Ethel avoided saying that her eyes were too close together.  Mattie’s parents were poor people but she was one of Kate’s Sunday School class and has asked to be allowed to join the “Ohios.”  The other girl was a large, raw-boned Irish girl, or rather of Irish parentage.  Her voice was shrill and unpleasant, while her hair was black and her eyes dark blue and lovely, her face was covered with freckles and she dressed loudly and in bad taste.  Pat Casey—­her father—–­was one of the wealthiest men in town.  He was a contractor and an honest, respectable man, but his wife was a pusher, trying to bluff her way into society.  She was ignorant and disagreeable.  People refused to receive her.  Nora had been only half educated at a convent.  Mrs. Casey, hearing of the Camp Fire Girls, bethought herself that it would be an opening for Honora, so she boldly called upon Miss Kate and asked—­yes, begged—­that Nora might belong; and Kate, who was kind-hearted, received the girl to the great joy of Mrs. Pat.  Having been born in the old country, both parents spoke with a brogue.  Occasionally, from association, Nora would use it; then she would stop suddenly, turn red, and speak perfect English.  Ethel disliked her even more than she did Mattie.

One day as she was helping wash dishes she lost a valuable diamond ring.  It had been her Grandmother’s engagement ring and she was heart-broken.  Although they searched everywhere no trace of it could they find, but as they were walking up the hill a week or so afterwards they thought they saw Mattie Hastings through the trees.  They called as a jest, “We’ve seen you and you’re discovered—­come