“Tell us that,” said Jack.

Rosalind explained the Forest idea, and the plan for a secret society.  This at once appealed to Belle.

“That would be fun,” she exclaimed.  “We could have ‘The Forest’ for a watchword, and hold meetings out of doors somewhere.”

“Yes; ‘under the greenwood tree,’” said Maurice.

“I don’t understand,” said Katherine.  “What are we to do?”

“We promise to bear hard things bravely, and—­”

“Let’s be like Robin Hood,” Belle interrupted, “and help down-trodden people.”

“Do you know any?” asked her brother, turning over.

“Jack makes me think of the dormouse in ‘Alice,’” laughed Rosalind.  “He is always going to sleep and waking up.”

“I’ll tell you!” cried Belle, “let’s search for the ring.”

“But we don’t know where to look,” said Katherine.

“A thing isn’t much lost if you know where to look, goosie,” answered Maurice.

“You see, it is partly pretend,” Rosalind explained.  “I think it is a beautiful idea, don’t you, boys?” she asked.

“Maurice, are you going to promise to bear hard things bravely?” Jack asked, with a quizzical look.  It seemed to tickle him greatly, for he went off into a fit of laughing. “‘See, the conquering hero comes,’” he hummed.

Maurice pave him a thump with his crutch.  “You aren’t much of a hero, either,” he said.  “Who took the roof off when his tooth was pulled?”

“But that hurt,” said Jack, still laughing.

“I am willing to own I have been making an awful fuss, but someway I hadn’t thought about it, and I am willing to try if the rest are.”

“But I haven’t any trouble,” said Katherine.

“Everybody has hard things to bear sometimes,” replied Rosalind.

“Doesn’t Maurice ever snub you?” asked irrepressible Jack.

“What shall we call our society?” Rosalind inquired, looking around the group for suggestions.

Maurice tore a leaf from his note-book and divided it carefully into five parts, handing a slip to each of his companions.

“Now be still for a while and think, and then write down a name.”

All was quiet for a time.  “Now,” said Maurice, “what is yours, Rosalind?”

“The Secret Society of the Forest,” said Rosalind.

“Sons and Daughters of the Forest,” announced Belle.

“The Forest Society,” said Jack.

Katherine had not been able to think of a name.  Maurice’s was “The Arden Foresters,” suggested, he said, by Belle’s “Robin Hood.”

“I believe it is the best,” said Rosalind, and so they all agreed finally, and the new society was named.

“Now we must have a book and write in it what we promise,” said Belle.

“Let’s appoint Rosalind and Maurice to draw up a—­what do you call it?” suggested Jack.

“I know,” said Belle; “a constitution.”

“I meant to go into Patricia’s Arbor, and I forgot,” remarked Rosalind, as they walked home together.