“Let’s tell her,” said Katherine.

“Girls always want to tell everything,” remarked Jack, causing Belle to frown upon him sternly.

“The magician has joined,” added Rosalind.

“Then I don’t see why Miss Celia can’t.  Do you, Maurice?” asked Belle.

“Listen, Belle,” said Celia, laughing, and without waiting for Maurice’s reply, “there may be some difference of opinion as to whether I should be a desirable member or not; suppose you go over there under the oak and talk it over.  Then if you want me I’ll consider the question.”

This seemed a sensible suggestion, and the Foresters retired to the shade of the scarlet oak to discuss the matter.  Jack had meant nothing but a fling at the feminine fondness for telling things, and was astonished that his remark could be supposed to reflect upon Miss Celia; and as no one else found any objection to the new member, they returned presently to inform her that she was by unanimous consent invited to become an honorary member of their society.

“As honorary members aren’t expected to do much, I’ll consider it.  Now please tell me about it.  What is its name and object?”

Maurice produced the book and read, “’The name of this Society shall be The Arden Foresters.’”

“That sounds like Robin Hood, don’t you think?” Belle put in.

“‘The object,’” Maurice continued, “’shall be to remember the Secret of the Forest, to bear hard things bravely, to search for the ring, and reciprocity.’”

“What ring?” Celia asked, smiling at the queer ending to this article.

“Don’t you know?  Patricia’s ring.  The one that is lost,” Rosalind explained, sorting her leaves.

“I fear it is a hopeless quest.”

“Maurice,” Rosalind exclaimed, “that is the word we wanted,—­the ‘quest’ of the ring.  Let’s put it in.”

“What does it mean?” asked Katherine.

“A search,” Celia answered.

“Then why won’t ‘search’ do?”

“But ‘quest’ sounds more like the Forest,” Rosalind urged.

“More romantic,” added Belle, adjusting her comb and tying her ribbon.

“One word is as good as another if it means what you want to say,” insisted Jack.  “They think they are so smart with their ‘reciprocity,’ and they got it out of a book.”

Rosalind glanced at him reproachfully.  “We looked in the dictionary for the meaning,” she said.

“I see no objection to getting it out of a book.  Most constitutions are patterned after others, and reciprocity is a good word.  Is there any more?” Miss Celia spread her work on her knee and turned to Maurice.

“Just the watchword ‘The Forest.’”

“I like your society very much and want to join if, as you suggested, I can be an honorary member.  I can try to bear hard things bravely, and remember the Forest secret, although I haven’t any time to give to the quest of the ring.”