The prospect of losing the club baby made her all the more precious in the eyes of her six adopted mothers, and during the weeks while they waited for news from across the ocean, they were lavish in care and affection.  They planned to make an elaborate traveling wardrobe for her, and worked courageously at it every minute they could spare.  Even Charlotte and Dorothy took a hand.  Time was lacking, however, and their ideas of what their baby really needed grew less expansive as the days went on.  The Candle Club boys felt that they were offering a neat and appropriate tribute when they presented the small lady with six pairs of shoes, two black, two white, and a pair each of red and blue.

“Those are good enough for a baron’s granddaughter, don’t you think?” asked Jack, who had been deputed to present them at a meeting of the Social Six.  “I think they’re rather neat, myself,” he added with modest pride, as he stood off and gazed admiringly at them.

“They are lovely,” said Ruth warmly.  “Have some fudge.  And here, take some back to the boys to show that we appreciate their kindness.”

“I just know they waited to give them. until they felt sure we were making fudge,” grumbled Dolly as Jack departed.  “I know their tricks.”

“I don’t care,” laughed Ruth.  “We’ve had plenty anyway, and it was nice of them to spend their money on shoes.”

The girls were in Ruth’s room, and the rest of the house was very still, for Mrs. Hamilton had gone to Boston and Arthur was out with the boys.  Tongues were flying fast, and no one heard the bell ring.  Presently Katie appeared in the doorway with the card-tray saying: 

“Miss Ruth, there is a gentleman down-stairs who wants to see Mrs. Hamilton, and I can’t make him understand where she is.”

Ruth looked at the card curiously and then fell back on the sofa with a startled face.

“Girls, it’s the Baron von Grunwald,” she gasped, “and he’s come without any warning.  Oh, why did Aunt Mary go into town to-day!”

“It’s much more likely to be one of the boys playing a joke on us,” said Dolly who hadn’t had a chance to see the exceedingly correct-looking card which Ruth was crushing in her agitation.  “I don’t believe there has been time yet for Elsa’s relatives to get here.”

“Pretty nearly four weeks ago that Uncle Henry sent the letters,” replied Ruth.  “You can’t make me believe the boys could get up anything like this,” she added, displaying the card.

“You’ll have to go down right off,” said Dorothy, quite convinced.  “You mustn’t keep him waiting.”

“Oh, why not one of you?” groaned Ruth.  “He won’t know the difference, and you’ve lived in Glenloch longer.”

“Goosey.  As if that made any difference,” laughed Charlotte.

“You know more German than any one of us,” said Katharine comfortingly.

“Horrors!  Shall I have to talk to him in German?” asked poor Ruth in despair.