Miss Laura nodded.
"But we don't want her, a hateful little snake in the grass like that!"
the girl flung out angrily. "If you knew the way she treats
Elizabeth--like the dirt under her feet!"
"I know. Her face shows what she is," Laura admitted.
"Well--do you want a girl like that in your Camp Fire?"
"Yes," Laura's voice was very low and gentle, "yes, I want any kind of
girl--that the Camp Fire can help."
"The other girls won't want her," Olga declared.
"They want Elizabeth, and you think they cannot have her without having
Sadie."
Olga sat staring into the fire, her black brows meeting in a moody
scowl.
"Olga, what is the Camp Fire for?" Laura asked presently.
"For? Why----" Olga paused, a new thought dawning in her dark eyes.
Laura answered as if she had spoken it. "Yes, the Camp Fire is to help
any girl in any way possible. Not only to help weak girls to grow
strong, and timid girls to grow brave, and helpless girls to become
useful, and lonely girls to find friends and social opportunities--it is
for all these things, but for more--much more besides. It is to show
selfish, narrow-minded girls--like that poor little Sadie--the beauty of
unselfishness and generosity and thoughtful kindness to others. Don't
you see that we have no right to refuse to give Sadie her chance just
because she doesn't know any better than to be disagreeable?"
Again Olga was silent, and the clock had ticked away full ten minutes
before Laura spoke again. "You want Elizabeth to come to our meetings?"
"It's the only pleasure she has in the world--coming to them," Olga
returned.
"I know, and I want her to come just as much as you do," Miss Laura
said, "but I think you are the only one who can bring it about."
"How can I?"
"There is a way--I think--but it will be a very unpleasant one for you.
It will call for a large patience, and perseverance, and determination."